According to Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold on his podcast, Days of Roar, Skubal is “all but guaranteed” to leave the Tigers after the 2026 MLB season. The AL Cy Young Award winner is set to become a free agent after 2026, where he is looking to become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.

Skubal accomplished the feat last year when he posted 18 wins, struck out 228 batters, and logged a 2.39 ERA, becoming the first pitcher to record one since Shane Bieber in 2020, and the first full season pitching Triple Crown in the American League since fellow Tiger Justin Verlander in 2011.

Even after an exciting, plucky Detroit Tigers team pushed their way into the postseason last year, it would have been far-fetched to predict the production they've engineered midway through 2025.