The New York Mets are once again eyeing the top of the pitching market, and this time, they may set their sights on one of the best arms in baseball. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets are “expected to get involved” in trade discussions surrounding Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, whose future in Detroit is suddenly uncertain after a massive gap emerged in contract negotiations.
Reports from the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reveal that the Tigers and Skubal are roughly $250 million apart in extension talks, a figure so large that it’s already turning heads across the league. Detroit reportedly offered the left-hander a deal “well less than” the $170 million contract Garrett Crochet signed with the Red Sox. Skubal, meanwhile, is believed to be asking for a $400 million extension—a number that would make him the highest-paid full-time starting pitcher in MLB history, eclipsing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million deal with the Dodgers.
### Mets Could Be Ready to Strike
For the Mets, this represents the exact kind of opportunity that owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns have been waiting for. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw the team fall short of postseason expectations, the front office is eager to add a proven ace to pair with Kodai Senga and Nolan McLean at the top of the rotation.
Skubal, 28, has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. He posted a 2.21 ERA with a league-leading 0.89 WHIP and 241 strikeouts in 195.1 innings last season. In the postseason, he was even better—delivering a 1.74 ERA and striking out 36 batters across just three starts.
He’s on track to become the first Tigers pitcher ever to win back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards, a distinction that would instantly make him one of the most coveted players on the trade market if Detroit makes him available.
### A High Price to Pay
To pry him away from the Tigers won’t come cheap. Sammon reports that Detroit could demand a package including two top-level starting pitchers and a position player prospect, a price that would force the Mets to dip into their highly regarded farm system. That could mean names like Christian Scott, Blade Tidwell, or Jett Williams entering the conversation—a cost Cohen might be willing to stomach if it means landing a second ace capable of changing the team’s trajectory.
### Skubal’s Price Tag Could Shape MLB’s Offseason
The question now is whether the Tigers truly intend to move their star or are merely using the trade market to leverage extension talks. Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris has offered little clarity, telling MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery, “Tarik’s a Tiger. I hope he wins the Cy Young for the second consecutive year. He’s an incredible pitcher, and we’re lucky to have him.”
That statement, while complimentary, hardly sounds like a long-term commitment—especially given how far apart both sides remain in contract talks. If Detroit decides it can’t meet Skubal’s asking price, a trade to the Mets could quickly gain traction.
Skubal’s dominance, paired with Cohen’s willingness to spend and the Mets’ desperate need for another front-line starter, makes this a natural fit. For now, speculation only links the two sides—but as the offseason unfolds, each day makes the possibility of Skubal in blue and orange seem more plausible.
https://heavy.com/sports/mlb/new-york-mets/tarik-skubal-trade-rumors-tigers-contract-gap/
