The Mets are determined to be protagonists in 2026 and to do so they need to strengthen their starting rotation. Returning to compete in the elite of the National League will not be easy, which is why the board does not rule out the idea of signing Tarik Skubal.
However, the price that has been set by the Detroit Tigers is so high that it could stop any serious attempt from New York.
Tarik Skubal, the Mets’ great desire
It is no secret that the Mets have been in pursuit of Tarik Skubal. The left-hander is considered by many analysts to be one of the best pitchers in MLB at present, and his arrival would immediately raise the team’s expectations.
According to journalist Joel Sherman of MLB Network and the New York Post, Detroit is not willing to negotiate cheaply.
“The Mets received indications that Tarik Skubal could cost them their top five prospects,” a demand that would naturally have set off alarm bells in the Citi Field offices.
The price Detroit is asking for Skubal
According to MLB Pipeline, the five prospects the Mets would have to include in the trade would be Nolan McLean (RHP), Jacob Reimer (3B), Carson Benge (OF), Ryan Clifford (1B) and Jonah Tong (RHP). These are key names in the franchise’s medium- and long-term project.
Particular attention is being paid to Carson Benge and Nolan McLean, two players in whom the organization has placed high expectations. Getting rid of them would mean betting everything on the present, sacrificing depth and development.
The Mets really need Tarik Skubal
Although Tarik Skubal would be a luxury for any team, the Mets have already made a major splash by recently acquiring Freddy Peralta. The right-hander arrives as the natural leader of the pitching staff and reduces, to some extent, the urgency to add another ace.
Skubal, as a lefty, would fit perfectly as a complement to Peralta, but the cost of the transfer forces the board to rethink priorities. It’s not about talent, it’s about balance between present and future.
Tarik Skubal and the Tigers are going through a tense relationship due to disagreements in the arbitration process, a situation that has marked the entire offseason. It seems that Detroit is open to moving its star, but only if it receives historic compensation.
Even with an almost inevitable exit, the Tigers are in no hurry and are looking to maximise the value of their main asset. The big question is whether New York will be willing to pay such a high price for Tarik Skubal or whether they will opt to strengthen other areas without mortgaging their future.
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