The hottest topic this Major League Baseball offseason will be what the Detroit Tigers decide to do with their superstar starting pitcher, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal will potentially reach free agency at the conclusion of the 2026 season. Moreover, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported last week that the Tigers and Skubal are “close to $250 million” apart in contract extension negotiations. If Detroit cannot reach an agreement with the 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner, it risks losing him for nothing next winter.
The Tigers‘ main priority should be retaining Skubal and keeping him in Detroit for the remainder of his career. But there will be more than a few teams interested in making a trade for the most coveted left-handed pitcher in baseball.
The New York Mets Make ‘The Most Sense’ for Skubal
The New York Mets made the biggest splash of last year’s offseason, signing outfielder Juan Soto to the most significant contract in professional sports history. Still, they failed to qualify for the postseason. As a result, Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly believes they can make another move that transcends their roster.
“The team that would make the most sense for Skubal in an offseason trade is the New York Mets,” wrote Kelly. “Not only do they have an owner in Steve Cohen who will probably be willing to meet the asking price of Skubal and agent Scott Boras next offseason, but they have a major need for an ace in 2026 and pieces that could be of interest to the Tigers in return.”
The Mets could roll the dice and hope Skubal shows an interest in signing with the organization next offseason, or they can be aggressive in pursuing an ace. New York has several young pitchers who could pique the interest of the Tigers.
“Even if we assume that the Mets aren’t going to trade Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and/or Brandon Sproat, they could be at the forefront of a trade return for one guaranteed season with Skubal,” Kelly added.
Should the Tigers Entertain Offers for Skubal?
Sometimes, the rumor mill tells a different story than the actuality. Behind the scenes, the Tigers may have a detailed plan to keep Skubal in Detroit. Retaining the former AL Pitching Crown winner could be best for the organization if they want to remain in contention. Several factors, primarily financial constraints, could keep them from doing so.
“Of course, the answer here is that Detroit owner Chris Ilitch should take a page out of the playbook of his late father, Mike, and spend whatever exorbitant amount it takes to keep the top pitcher in the sport in Motown,” Kelly wrote about the Tigers’ recent spending habits. “If he’s not prepared to do that, though, now would probably be the time to trade him.”
Whether the Tigers trade Skubal should depend heavily on what a team like the Mets offers in return, as the deal would require multiple proven major leaguers and several top prospects, Kelly and likely many more, feel like the Mets are in the best position to make an organization-altering move, even if it’s just for one year.
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