The New York Mets made headlines last offseason with a record-breaking move, signing Juan Soto to a $765 million deal. Yet despite landing one of baseball’s biggest stars, their failure to strengthen the pitching staff ultimately led to their struggles this season.
Heading into this offseason, the Mets need another major move—this time focused on pitching. According to Fansided’s Zachary Rotman, the team could make the blockbuster trade of the winter by pursuing Detroit Tigers ace and Cy Young contender Tarik Skubal.
No team has been more frequently linked to Skubal than the Mets, and it’s easy to understand why—they’re in desperate need of a true No. 1 starter. While president of baseball operations David Stearns has been hesitant to spend heavily on frontline pitchers, his reported involvement in last year’s Crochet talks suggests he might be open to trading for Skubal. Although Skubal’s expiring contract could complicate matters, Rotman notes that it might allow New York to keep top prospect Nolan McLean out of trade discussions.
Rotman also pointed out that the Mets have the assets to make a serious offer. Their system includes MLB-ready pitching prospects like Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, Carson Benge, and Jett Williams, along with young major leaguers such as Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio. A realistic deal, he suggested, would likely require a mix of two top-tier prospects plus additional pieces.
Given Skubal’s potential to earn back-to-back Cy Young Awards, Rotman believes he’s worth the price. With multiple teams expected to chase him, the Mets would be wise to move quickly if they hope to land one of baseball’s premier arms.
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