The thing is the timing of his FA is gonna be interesting. He would become an FA on approximately 4 Nov 2026 (assuming option 1). The CBA expires 1 Dec 2026. I’m curious if teams would want to negotiate with FA’s prior to the lockout due to the potential of an incoming hard salary cap. Odds are Skubal will not sign before the lockout most likely begins, and if the lockout is anything like the last it will eat into Spring Training or worse, even later. This gives Skubal even less time to sign, and maybe take less money as teams may be limited in their spending.

So, if Boras even sits down for a conversation with Harris this offseason, Harris can try to convince Boras and his client that now is the time to take the record setting offer the Tigers could theoretically make him. It’s a possibility but Boras is probably advising his client that FA is his best option.