MLB analyst gives verdict on Tarik Skubal's status in the game

After winning the American League Triple Crown last season, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal's values just keep rising. The southpaw receives praise from all around the baseball community with some even considering him at the top of the list of all pitchers.

On the "Diggin' Deep" podcast, pitching analyst Rob Friedman shared his thoughts about which pitchers are the deadliest ones to face in the MLB. The first person he named was Skubal. According to him, the Tigers star is the best on the mound currently and has a demeanor to his game that is unmatched.

"He is the best pitcher in baseball right now, and I don’t think there’s much doubt about it, being a young guy ... He's so relaxed sometimes," Friedman said. "Like, you'll see him joke around, and then other times you see him, like, you know, walking off the field, feeling himself.

"Like, he's a character, and, you know, he's another guy you have to root for because he's a smart dude, works hard, but has nasty, nasty stuff. Like, he hit 102 (mph)."

Tarik Skubal agrees to one-year extension with Tigers

Tarik Skubal agreed to a one-year extension with the Detroit Tigers, avoiding arbitration, on Thursday. The two parties agreed to a one-year, $10.15 million contract. That's a significant increase from Skubal's $2.65 million salary he earned last year. If the Tigers weren't able to sign him before the arbitration deadline then a hearing would have followed.

Skubal deserves the raise after he pitched to an 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA last season. He was also influential during the playoffs, posting a shutout start against the Houston Astros during the AL Wild Card Series, which the Tigers won. A long-term extension will also be on the cards from the Tigers if he continues to do well. The 28-year-old will be eligible for free agency after the 2026 season.

Pitchers in the past have received hefty arbitration fees as well. Corbin Burnes, who recently signed a six-year $210 million contract, had received $15.6 million in his final arbitration year from the Baltimore Orioles in 2024.

Along with Skubal, the Tigers' rotation currently consists of Reese Olson, Alex Cobb and Casey Mize. Their pitching was one of the major reasons why they were able to make a playoff push in the late months of the regular season in 2024. The Tigers were beaten by the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series in five games.