When was the last time the Mets truly had an “ace” pitcher?
It’s been three years, ever since Jacob deGrom left for Texas in free agency. deGrom was a legendary Met, one of the very best pitchers on the planet, giving the Mets hope even when the roster around him offered little insurance or support. Now, the Mets have star power, but still lack that true, undeniable “ace” sitting atop the rotation.
That’s where Tarik Skubal comes in.
Should the Mets Really Trade For Tarik Skubal?
Skubal, 28, has been at the center of rumors and offseason buzz due to contract disputes and his upcoming free agency in 2027. With Detroit operating like a small-market club, the media have been pushing the idea of a blockbuster, and the Mets have rocketed to the front of the conversation.
The Mets can afford a Skubal trade, but should they? Here are the pros and cons of making Tarik Skubal a New York Met.
Pro
It’s no secret the Mets’ rotation desperately needs a shake-up. In 2024, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns assembled a budget-friendly staff, with Sean Manaea and Luis Severino joining Kodai Senga, José Quintana, and the Peterson/Megill duo. It worked well enough at the time — but trying to run it back in 2025 has been a disaster.
Stearns re-signed Manaea on a three-year, $75 million deal, only for him to struggle staying healthy and pitch to a 2–4 record with a 5.64 ERA in just 60 innings. Then came Frankie Montas, a former Brewer who hadn’t been effective in years —signed for 2 years, $34 million. He, too, got hurt early, and the results were rough: a 3–2 record with a 6.28 ERA in only 38 innings. Those two moves alone had Mets fans immediately questioning Stearns’ strategy.
All of this forced the Mets to lean on their young pitching prospects down the stretch — before they were ready. Nolan McLean stepped up and looked like a future mainstay. Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, still developing, showed their inexperience on a big stage.
That’s precisely why the Mets need a proven ace — and Tarik Skubal is that guy. He brings experience, consistency, and dominant stuff that even the league’s best struggle to hit. The Mets finally have the prospects and the financial muscle to make a deal like this realistic — something that felt impossible just a few years ago.
What a Skubal trade package could look like
Tarik Skubal won’t come cheap. He has dominated the American League the past two seasons, leading in a wide range of pitching categories. And with free agency looming after 2026, any team acquiring him initially gets only a two-year window.
But with Steve Cohen cutting checks like no owner ever has, the Mets would absolutely be in play to extend a potential two-time Cy Young winner.
According to a recent MLB Network proposal, the Mets would send:
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Brett Baty
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Luisangel Acuña
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SP prospect Brandon Sproat (No. 5)
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SP prospect Jonah Tong (No. 4)
That’s a steep price — but the best pitcher in baseball deserves a steep price. And both sides would walk away with something they desperately need.
Con
As exciting as Skubal is, there are real concerns. Should the Mets gut their entire farm system for a player who might walk after 2026? We saw the Yankees trade a haul for Juan Soto — only to watch him jump to Queens a year later.
What’s stopping the same kind of heartbreak in reverse?
And Skubal isn’t the only top-tier arm potentially available. Freddy Peralta, Stearns’ former ace in Milwaukee, could cost less in prospects. Adding Peralta might also leave room for the Mets to chase another starter — names like Dylan Cease or Zac Gallen are floating around, too.
Plus, the Mets’ own arms are coming. McLean, Tong, and Sproat could be rotation pillars for the next decade — supported by an improving farm system complete with arms that can impact the big-league club soon.
The Verdict
David Stearns has a franchise-altering decision in front of him. The Mets need a true ace — badly. But they must weigh that need against long-term sustainability.
The ball is in Stearns’ court.
This offseason is his chance to bring that change to Queens, finally.
Main Photo Credits: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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