A few years ago, the Cincinnati Reds decided to hitch their wagon to an emerging young pitcher named Hunter Greene. Following his rookie season in 2022, Cincinnati signed Greene to a six-year, $53 million extension. Based on the payday Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal just received, Nick Krall and the Reds front office made a wise decision.
Skubal won his arbitration case against the Tigers and will take home $32 million in 2026 — a $22 million raise from his 2025 season. Detroit filed at $19 million, but the arbiter ruled in favor of the player, and his decision will likely have huge ramifications moving into the impending lockout.