When was the last time the Mets truly had an \u201cace\u201d pitcher?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been three years, ever since Jacob deGrom left for Texas in free agency. deGrom was a legendary Met, one of the very best pitchers on the planet, giving the Mets hope even when the roster around him offered little insurance or support. Now, the Mets have star power, but still lack that true, undeniable \u201cace\u201d sitting atop the rotation.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where Tarik Skubal comes in.<\/p>\n
Skubal, 28, has been at the center of rumors and offseason buzz due to contract disputes and his upcoming free agency in 2027. With Detroit operating like a small-market club, the media have been pushing the idea of a blockbuster, and the Mets have rocketed to the front of the conversation.<\/p>\n
The Mets can afford a Skubal trade, but should they? Here are the pros and cons of making Tarik Skubal a New York Met.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no secret the Mets\u2019 rotation desperately needs a shake-up. In 2024, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns assembled a budget-friendly staff, with Sean Manaea and Luis Severino joining Kodai Senga, Jos\u00e9 Quintana, and the Peterson\/Megill duo. It worked well enough at the time \u2014 but trying to run it back in 2025 has been a disaster.<\/p>\n
Stearns re-signed Manaea on a three-year, $75 million deal, only for him to struggle staying healthy and pitch to a 2\u20134 record with a 5.64 ERA in just 60 innings. Then came Frankie Montas, a former Brewer who hadn\u2019t been effective in years \u2014signed for 2 years, $34 million. He, too, got hurt early, and the results were rough: a 3\u20132 record with a 6.28 ERA in only 38 innings. Those two moves alone had Mets fans immediately questioning Stearns\u2019 strategy.<\/p>\n
All of this forced the Mets to lean on their young pitching prospects down the stretch \u2014 before they were ready. Nolan McLean stepped up and looked like a future mainstay. Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, still developing, showed their inexperience on a big stage.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s precisely why the Mets need a proven ace \u2014 and Tarik Skubal is<\/strong> that guy. He brings experience, consistency, and dominant stuff that even the league\u2019s best struggle to hit. The Mets finally have the prospects and the financial muscle to make a deal like this realistic \u2014 something that felt impossible just a few years ago.<\/p>\n Tarik Skubal won\u2019t come cheap. He has dominated the American League the past two seasons, leading in a wide range of pitching categories. And with free agency looming after 2026, any team acquiring him initially gets only a two-year window.<\/p>\n But with Steve Cohen cutting checks like no owner ever has, the Mets would absolutely be in play to extend a potential two-time Cy Young winner.<\/p>\nWhat a Skubal trade package could look like<\/h3>\n