Reports indicated last week that the New York Mets might have an opportunity to land Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal. As things currently stand, one can make a strong argument that Skubal is the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, perhaps outside of Paul Skenes. Even then, Skubal might be better.Â
While it doesn’t seem too bright for the Tigers to move on from Skubal, if they don’t plan to pay him next winter, there isn’t much of a reason to keep him around. The Tigers aren’t a team that can afford a player like Skubal to just walk for nothing.Â
âIf the Detroit Tigers make ace Tarik Skubal available in trade discussions this winter, and signs point to them doing just that, then the New York Mets are expected to get involved…
âItâs unknown how far apart the sides would be today, but at this point, that may just be semantics. While itâs possible the Tigers, fresh off back-to-back postseason appearances, may hold onto Skubal, some executives around the league are figuring that Detroit will make the left-hander available based on the Postâs reporting,â Will Sammon wrote.
What Could the Mets Give Up for Tarik Skubal?
While the New York Mets’ interest seems obvious, as the team could use an ace-caliber arm like Skubal, it’s also fair to wonder what the Detroit Tigers would want in return.Â
He only has a year before free agency, and could be viewed as a rental, but considering just how good he is, that shouldn’t hurt the Tigers’ return too much. PerÂ
Sammon, the Mets are willing to move on from nearly every player in their farm system outside of Nolan McLean.Â
âOutside of McLean, the Mets are probably willing to consider dealing any player in hypothetical trade talks. Skubal, though, is just a rental; executives suggested that itâd be unlikely for Boras to do an extension so close to free agency…
âJust to provide a general idea, one industry source unaffiliated with the club speculated Detroit may look to ask for two top-level starting pitchers and a position player prospect. In Mets parlance, that means something like Tong, Sproat and prospect Jett Williams,â he added.
Should the Mets Consider Trading Nolan McLean?
The idea of not trading McLean if the New York Mets have an opportunity to land Skubal would be disastrous. While McLean looks like he has all the talent in the world to be a star one day in Major League Baseball as well, they already know what they have with a player of Skubalâs caliber.Â
Factor that in with the Mets’ opportunity to pay him the money he’s looking for, and there isn’t much of a reason why New York would make anyone untouchable.Â
That isn’t to say that McLean can’t be the homegrown star the Mets are hoping for, too, but there’s a lot less risk involved if they were to go out and land Skubal.Â
Of course, pitchers are always a bit interesting cases in terms of paying long-term money because of injury history, but Skubal is going to get $300 million plus from someone.Â
If the Mets don’t, they should expect a team that could have an impact on them in the postseason or regular season to go out and try to get the deal done.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Mets Would be Making a Mistake by Making This Player Untouchable in Tarik Skubal Trade appeared first on Heavy Sports.