MLB Arbitration: 18 Players Exchange Filing Figures for 2026

MLB Arbitration Day Recap: Big Gaps, Bold Strategies, and What Comes Next

Major League Baseball’s annual arbitration deadline brought its usual dose of tension, strategy, and a few wild salary gaps. As the clock hit 7:00 p.m. Central, clubs and arbitration-eligible players either reached one-year deals or exchanged salary figures—sometimes with an eyebrow-raising distance between them.

Most cases got settled quietly, but 18 notable disputes are still hanging in the air. That means we’re headed for some high-stakes hearings and a bit of gamesmanship across the league.

The Arbitration Deadline Explained

Arbitration season might be one of MLB’s most confusing but important rituals. Teams and players have months to negotiate, and plenty of deals wrap up before November’s non-tender deadline.

For those who can’t agree, the filing deadline on Tuesday forces each side to put their number on the table. Once everyone’s cards are down, teams usually switch to a “file-and-trial” approach.

This strategy means clubs stop negotiating one-year deals and push players to decide if they’re really ready to argue their case in front of an arbitration panel.

How Arbitration Hearings Work

If a case heads to a hearing—set for dates between January 26 and February 13—a three-person panel listens to both sides. Here’s the kicker: arbitrators have to pick either the player’s number or the team’s, with no middle ground allowed.

That winner-take-all setup definitely ups the pressure. It’s not for the faint of heart.

The Biggest Filing Disparities

Every year, a few salary gaps make you do a double take. This time, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal owns the biggest headline.

The gap between Skubal and the Tigers is just wild, and it really shows how differently people can value elite performance.

Tarik Skubal Sets a Record

Skubal filed at $32 million, and the Tigers answered with $19 million. That’s a record $13 million spread.

After a Cy Young-caliber season, Skubal’s camp is betting big, but Detroit doesn’t look eager to set a new standard for themselves. It’s a standoff that’s tough to ignore.

A few other notable disputes:

Mid-Level and Lower-Tier Cases to Watch

The biggest stars get all the attention, but mid-level cases can be just as telling. They reveal how teams weigh things like durability, upside, and recent performance.

Solid Contributors, Real Disagreements

Several pitchers are in real disputes that could easily end up in a hearing:

At the lower end, the margins shrink but matter just as much to younger players trying to make their mark:

Why File-and-Trial Still Dominates

Teams keep sticking with the file-and-trial model, even though plenty of players have voiced their frustration. Drawing a hard line lets front offices try to keep salary inflation in check.

They also want to hold onto some leverage for future negotiations. Sure, there are exceptions—multi-year deals or club options sometimes sneak through—but honestly, that’s not the norm.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, ESPN’s Jeff Passan, and Ben Nicholson-Smith, these filing numbers offer a pretty revealing glimpse into how clubs and players view performance these days. Analytics play a huge role now, for better or worse.

So, now it’s just a waiting game. Some cases will settle quietly, and others are bound to end up in the arbitration spotlight.

 
Here is the source article for this story: 18 Players Exchange Filing Figures