As of now, the New York Mets are the favorites to trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal , if such a trade happens this offseason. The two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner, Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the 2026 season, and while the Tigers haven’t shown any real indication that they are willing to shop the left-hander this winter, executives around the league believe they’re inclined to, at a minimum, listen to offers.
Why the Mets Should Not Trade for Tarik Skubal
Back in October, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that the Tigers offered Skubal well less than the $170 million deal Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet signed a bit later. While there’s no belief Skubal named his price, his obvious comparison is Gerrit Cole , who signed six years ago for a record $324 million, and with prices up (Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander $43.33 million a year, Juan Soto $51 million), the baseline ask for Skubal is widely seen as $400 million.
Then, in late October, Heyman reported that the Tigers and Skubal had an even greater gap than initially believed. It turned out that the Tigers’ offer to Skubal was below $80 million for four years. So it’s pretty difficult to imagine him staying with the Tigers beyond next season, hence the trade speculation.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Skubal to earn a salary of $17.8 million next season. That’s an affordable number for the Mets’ projected payroll and, relatively speaking, a bargain for a pitcher that’s considered to be one of, if not the best, in the league. Although money isn’t the issue here for the Mets, acquisition cost and risk are.
Too Many Questions Surround the Mets’ Roster
Firstly, coming off a disappointing season, the Mets enter the offseason with more questions than answers. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the front office appears willing to shake things up. Jeff McNeil , Brett Baty , Mark Vientos , Brandon Nimmo (who holds a no-trade clause), and Luisangel Acuña have all surfaced as trade pieces. Add in the uncertain futures of stars like Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz , and it’s clear the Mets don’t yet know what direction their roster is heading.
Kodai Senga adds another layer of unpredictability. His name has circulated in trade chatter as well, and after a wildly uneven 2025 season, it’s hard to project what he’ll be moving forward. Senga opened the year with a league-best 1.47 ERA before a hamstring injury sidelined him for a month. When he returned, his mechanics and command collapsed, leading to a 5.90 ERA in the second half . His own admission to never fully recovering only deepens the concern.
The Boras Factor
Secondly, in just another layer of complication for the Mets, Scott Boras – agent of Tarik Skubal and superstar players alike – loves to test and encourages his clients to hit the open market and maximize their potential value. This means that trading for Skubal this winter, whether it’s the Mets or any other team, would hold no particular advantage toward signing him to a long-term extension. It’s similar to two offseasons ago, when the Yankees traded for Juan Soto, who just a year later signed a record deal of $765 million for 15 years – the largest in pro sports history. The important part of all this is that the Yankees had no real advantage during the entire process. And there’s a real fear that could very well happen to the Mets.
“He’s gone. He’s going to the Mets.”
Lauren Shehadi’s bold prediction has Tarik Skubal being traded to Queens this offseason! pic.twitter.com/251sxOXzYa
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 5, 2025
Where the Mets Currently Sit Competitively
Lastly, the fact that the Mets missed out on the postseason after signing Juan Soto says a lot. It means even after getting one of the best players in the league, you don’t just magically win the World Series; you still have to build around them. The consensus is that the Mets, as a team, appear to have a young, bright future. Trading your future away for likely just one year of Skubal would not be wise. The club finished with just 83 wins, and is Skubal really going to take them to 95+ alone? Doubtful. A trade for one of the league’s best would likely require No. 1-ranked pitching prospect Nolan McLean , who burst onto the scene in August and shone (2.06 ERA). Along with McLean, prospects like Jonah Tong , Brandon Sproat , or Carson Benge would also likely figure in.
Main Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The post Why a Mets Trade for Tarik Skubal Doesn’t Make Sense appeared first on Last Word On Baseball .