Baseball

https://www.mlb.com/news/tarik-skubal-elbow-surgery-impact-on-tigers-free-agency?p=0&partnerId=it-20260505-17978386-mlb-1-B&utm_id=it-20260505-17978386-mlb-1-B&lctg=95464253

“While Skubal’s injury is devastating news for the 2026 Tigers, the bigger picture may be how it will impact the lefty’s free agency this offseason. Skubal was expected to land the biggest guaranteed contract for any pitcher in history -- the current record belongs to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers -- when he becomes a free agent at the end of the year.

It’s all going to depend on the medical,” an AL executive said of the impact on Skubal’s free-agent situation. “Not much if it’s just a loose-body cleanup.”

Another AL executive noted that loose bodies can sometimes be a sign of ligament damage in the elbow, later leading to Tommy John surgery. As long as Skubal returns without incident, this latest injury shouldn’t be a huge factor in his free agency as long as he can come back and show he’s healthy before the end of the season.”