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.

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.

Skubal is one of four MLB players nominated in the " Best MLB Player " category at the 2025 ESPY Awards, ESPN's annual awards show. First baseman Freddie Freeman and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees join Skubal as nominees.