FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag: February 7, 2026

It’s the Saturday earlier than the Tremendous Bowl, which suggests it’s the final Saturday earlier than the unofficial begin of baseball season! Properly, until you subscribe to Davy Andrews’ philosophy that the baseball season begins when the primary grainy cellphone footage of pitchers at their workforce’s spring coaching facility hits social media.

This has been an eventful week for the Tigers, who signed Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract on Wednesday evening after which on Thursday have been ordered by an arbitrator to pay two-time Cy Younger winner Tarik Skubal a $32 million wage for the 2026 season, his remaining 12 months beneath membership management. That’s some huge cash for Detroit to dole out, however for that worth, the Tigers have maybe one of the best 1-2 rotation combo within the American League. For one 12 months, I’d say that’s greater than value it. Michael Baumann broke down all of the implications of the Skubal choice on Thursday afternoon.

That’s the final we’ll be speaking about Skubal and Valdez at the moment. As an alternative, we’ll be answering your questions in regards to the all-time non-Corridor of Famers groups, minor league payrolls, and which gamers we’d need to see pull a Philip Rivers. Earlier than we do, I’d wish to remind you that this mailbag is unique to FanGraphs Members. Should you aren’t but a Member and wish to hold studying, you possibly can join a Membership right here. It’s the easiest way to each expertise the location and assist our workers, and it comes with a bunch of different nice advantages. Additionally, in the event you’d wish to ask a query for an upcoming mailbag, ship me an e mail at mailbag@fangraphs.com.