The Tarik Skubal salary arbitration case has become a focal point, with American media viewing it as a precursor to MLB labor negotiations.

The salary arbitration between Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers is under the spotlight because of the wide disparity in their proposals—the player demands $32 million per year, whereas the team bids $19 million, setting a historic $13 million gap. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, this case not only tests the arbitration system but also serves as a prelude to MLB’s collective labor negotiations.

Rosenthal explains that the uniqueness of Skubal’s arbitration lies in his meeting both the “five years of major league service” and “special achievement” criteria. Under the MLB labor agreement, such players can be compared to any player (including free agents) in arbitration, without being limited to comparisons with players who have only one year more service time.

Regardless of the arbitration outcome, Skubal is set to receive a substantial raise and is positioned to sign a lucrative contract once he enters free agency next year, placing him in a strong position. Rosenthal believes this situation offers Skubal and his agent Scott Boras a chance to challenge the current system. Since arbitration involves choosing between the two submitted figures, teams usually must prove the player’s value is below the midpoint, while players must prove it is above. However, with such a vast gap, the midpoint loses its relevance.

Boras is expected to push the system’s limits by proposing a figure exceeding Juan Soto’s $31 million arbitration record, aiming to demonstrate that pitchers should be valued equally to position players, thereby seeking to change the existing arbitration structure.

Rosenthal also stresses that viewing this arbitration case simply as a dispute between one team and one player oversimplifies the bigger picture. Both the league’s labor relations department and the players’ union play crucial roles in the process. From this perspective, Skubal’s arbitration may just be a preliminary battle, with the real showdown looming in the upcoming labor talks—the heavyweight confrontation between the league and the players’ union.