Mets Expected to Make Strong Push for Tarik Skubal During Free Agency, Claims Insider

The 2026 season was not a good one for the New York Mets, as they missed the postseason once again. Given the disappointments, the team is expected to go heavy in the upcoming offseason. As per an MLB insider, the National League East is expected to make a strong push for Tarik Skubal in free agency.

Skubal, the 2-time Cy Young Award winner, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August by the Detroit Tigers. While the starting pitcher expressed his desire to stay with the team, there was a huge gap between the two parties over a contract extension.

With no contract extension talks with the Dodgers yet, Skubal will become a free agent. In free agency, the Dodgers are expected to be involved in his race and try to bring him back on a long-term deal.

The Mets will be among the big-market teams that would pursue him. As per an insider, Chelsea Janes, the New York side is expected to match whatever offer is made for him.

UPDATE The Mets are expected to match whatever money Tarik Skubal gets offered in free agency, per @chelsea_janes https://t.co/SRikJsXtRp

— SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) October 14, 2026

The Mets, obviously, are not afraid to splash the cash. 2 years ago, in December 2024, they broke the MLB record by signing Juan Soto on a massive 15-year, $765 million deal.

The New York Yankees, with whom Soto spent the 2024 season and reached the World Series, had put up a 16-year, $760 million offer.

The first two years of Soto in Mets’ colors have not gone the way the team would have hoped. While he has been one of their top performers, the team has underperformed.

In 2025, they missed the postseason on the final day of the regular season following a huge slump. This season was even worse than last time.

They went on huge losing runs, which eventually led to the firing of Carlos Mendoza as the manager. Soto and his team went 74-88 and finished last in the NL East for the first time since 2003.

In the season-ending conference of the Mets, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns expressed that the team needed to add some starting pitchers to their rotation.

David Stearns says it is "necessary" for the Mets to add to their starting rotation https://t.co/UEBdEQ9WXM

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 28, 2026

Skubal’s next deal is expected to be around $400 million to $500 million. At the moment, his Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto holds the record for the largest contract offered to any starting pitcher at 12-year, $325 million.

Mets’ star claims it would be “awesome” to have Tarik Skubal in their pitching rotation

The future of Tarik Skubal has been one of the biggest talking points this year. While he is with the Los Angeles Dodgers now, there is a chance that he could end up somewhere else next year. A New York Mets star recently expressed claimed it would be “awesome” for the team to have him.

The addition of Skubal would be a huge boost for the Mets. However, it will not be that easy to win his signature. Apart from the Mets and the Dodgers, the New York Yankees have also been linked with him.

In an interview with the New York Post (subscription required), pitcher Zac Thornton spoke about Skubal. The left-handed relief pitcher would love to have another southpaw on their team.

I talk to (McLean) all the time about it, and he had some good talks with Skubal when they were in the WBC together. It would be awesome to bounce ideas, especially coming from another left-handed pitcher. There are not many around here, so it would be awesome to have another powerhouse left-handed pitcher around here.

Zac Thornton said

Zac Thornton recently spoke to the New York Post about the excitement surrounding the Mets’ young rotation and the possibility of adding Tarik Skubal in free agency this offseason. 👀 On the Mets’ young rotation: “It’s awesome to see everybody’s success up here. It’s cool just because we have been together in the offseasons in November down in Florida. We have been to the strength camps, we’ve been to the pitching camps that the Mets do a great job of setting up. So it’s just cool to see everybody’s work kind of flourish and just let everybody go do their thing on the field.” On potentially adding Tarik Skubal: “I talk to [McLean] all the time about it, and he had some good talks with Skubal when they were in the WBC together. It would be awesome to bounce ideas, especially coming from another left-handed pitcher. Sean [Manaea] and I talk a lot, just about being lefties — there are not many around here, so it would be awesome to have another powerhouse left-handed pitcher around here.” On competing for a rotation spot: “You look at this whole landscape of baseball, and I think there’s always somebody coming for your job, coming from below, and I think that keeps me motivated to continue to go, continue to keep pushing me in my baseball career. It’s a complete dog-eat-dog world. I think all of us realize that, and all of us are going to put in the work. This offseason requires us to stay at this level.” On Nolan McLean: “He’s got some of the best stuff in baseball. It’s been a joy watching him from last year. We always knew the stuff was different. We always knew the stuff was some of the best in the league. It was just a matter of him being in the zone with it and controlling it and he did nothing but that [in the second half].” On Christian Scott: “From a physical standpoint, I remember he had to start with putting weight on. When he was in rehab last year, he did a really good job of that. He treated his body really well. He got himself to a good spot to compete at the major league level and do it for years to come.” On Jonah Tong: “I just call him ‘poster boy, the poster child,’ because he’s the man, the star of the show. It’s awesome just seeing him how he’s matured. I think he’s the most mature 23-year-old I have ever worked with. Just props to him. I know he went through a little bit of a spot this year in Triple-A and props to him for keeping his head up … knowing that it’s not the end of the world if you get dinged around a few outings and just stand the attack. He did a real good job of that this year.” On his mentality as a pitcher: “I am the ultimate competitor who really doesn’t care who’s in the box. I am going to come at you with whatever I have got that day and I am going to make it hard for you to grind out at-bats against me.” Via @NYPost_Mets #LGM

— Mets Batflip (@metsbatflip1) October 14, 2026

As of now, Skubal is busy with the Dodgers, who are 0-2 down in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was the starter in Game 1 and lasted 5 innings but was credited with the loss as he gave up a game-tying home run to Brice Turang and the go-ahead single to Luis Lara.

Also Read:

• “Far From Over,” Magic Johnson Sends Defiant Message to Dodgers After Falling 0-2 Down in NLCS
• Aaron Judge Urges Yankees to Go “All in” During Offseason Following ALDS Exit