yahoo
As the baseball world descends on Las Vegas for the winter meetings, the New York Mets have emerged as a leading suitor for Tarik Skubal, the most sought-after free agent pitcher on the market. A person with knowledge of the plans, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks are not public, told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday that Mets representatives will sit down with Skubal next week.
Skubal, who turns 30 later in November, is coming off a second consecutive Cy Young Award and is widely expected to command a contract that would shatter the record for a pitcher. The current benchmark is the $325 million deal Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers, Skubal was dealt to the Dodgers at the 2026 trade deadline as Detroit sought to recoup value before he reached free agency. In his stint with Los Angeles, he posted a 2.61 ERA over 10 regular-season starts and made two playoff appearances.
Industry observers anticipate Skubal will sign before Major League Baseball's expected lockout begins on Dec. 1, adding urgency to the negotiations. The Mets, known for their aggressive pursuit of top talent, are positioning themselves for a potential franchise-altering acquisition.
Key Analysis
Landing Skubal would immediately bolster the Mets' rotation and signal their intent to contend, but the competition will be fierce. The Dodgers, who acquired him for a playoff push, may also seek to retain him, while other deep-pocketed teams could enter the fray. With a lockout looming, the coming weeks are critical for Skubal's market to take shape.
Originally reported by yahoo.