PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 06: President of baseball operations for the New York Mets David Stearns looks on prior to Game 2 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, October 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Under billionaire owner Steve Cohen, the New York Mets haven’t been afraid to add superstar talent and that’s unlikely to change, even after a brutally disappointing season.
After the team signed Juan Soto to the largest contract in Major League Baseball history, the team endured a sharp skid in the standings following the All-Star break and it ultimately missed the playoffs. But there’s reason to believe the organization will double down on acquiring superstar talent by turning to the trade market, rather than additional free agent spending.
“A benefit to New York’s historic spending under owner Steve Cohen since the 2021-22 offseason is that there have been few blockbuster trades, outside of Francisco Lindor,” Fox Sports noted. “Rather the Mets’ biggest moves have been signings — Juan Soto, Max Scherzer, Starling Marte and re-signing Brandon Nimmo. In other words, because the Mets have primarily done their damage on the free-agent market, they can afford to trade from the top of their farm system…”
And if the Mets are going to target a major acquisition via trade, it seems like the starting pitcher market is the place for them to look. While Ranger Suarez and Framber Valdez headline the current crop of free agent starters, neither promises the impact of some aces who might be had in a trade.
Instead, by far the most talented pitcher who might be acquired this winter is the Detroit Tigers’ reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
However, even though Skubal would be a great boost for the Mets and the team has the prospect depth to swing a blockbuster deal, Mets fans were dealt a harsh update on how other teams view the likelihood of such a deal coming to fruition.
“Tarik Skubal could be a possibility, although officials with other teams seriously doubt that Mets head of baseball operations David Stearns would give up the vault of prospects needed to acquire Skubal for 2026 and then pay the $400 million-ish cost of his free agency next fall,” Buster Olney reported for ESPN.
An unwillingness to leverage young talent and commit to yet another large salary might not be what Mets fans have grown to expect under Cohen, but it speaks to just how expensive and talented Skubal is. The Tigers would likely have to be completely overwhelmed by an offer to consider moving him before next season begins and if the Mets are unwilling to pay the price, it seems unlikely that any team will be able to step up.