"The Tigers' signing of the best free agent left on the market, Framber Valdez, to a three-year, $115 million contract hours after Skubal's hearing ended Wednesday gave Detroit among the best No. 2 starters in Major League Baseball -- or a backup ace should the arbitration decision change Detroit's posture, which has been to enter the season with Skubal. Salary arbitration took a front-and-center role this winter because of the stark disparity between Skubal's request and the Tigers' counteroffer."
"While more than 90% of arbitration-eligible players settle their cases, the 29-year-old Skubal was intent on trying to push the boundaries of the system. The gambit worked. Leaning on a seldom-used provision in arbitration that allows players with five-plus years of service and so-called "special accomplishment" -- back-to-back Cy Youngs qualify -- to compare their salaries not just to those in the arbitration system but all major league players, Skubal built his case around starting-pitching salaries that have exceeded $40 million."
Tarik Skubal will be paid $32 million this year after a three-person arbitration panel ruled in his favor over the Tigers' $19 million proposal. The award surpasses the arbitration-system record by $1 million and far exceeds the previous panel high of $19.9 million. The decision clouds Skubal's future amid trade and free-agent timing questions and arrives as Detroit signed Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal. Skubal relied on a seldom-used five-plus years/'special accomplishment' provision to compare his salary to all MLB starters, citing starting-pitching contracts exceeding $40 million.
Read at ESPN.com
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