After a nightmare week, a prominent MLB insider firmly believes the New York Mets could be working towards making a pair of huge blockbuster deals in the next few weeks.
This past delivered a worst-case scenario for Mets fans regarding a pair of star free agents. On Monday, they found out not only that All-Star closer Edwin Diaz was not returning, but also that he was joining rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then they were hit with another blow, this time right to their hearts.
Mets home run king, Pete Alonso’s days in New York are officially over after he accepted a five-year deal worth $155 million from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. At this point, fans care less about who will replace them in 2026 and want a big-time win from the organization. Well, the front office could be plotting two.
During an interview with ESPN New York, MLB insider Buster Olney was adamant in his belief that the Mets may be working on blockbuster deals for both AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal and three-time All-Star Fernando Tatis, Jr.
“No team is better positioned to make a deal for Skubal than the Mets are,” Olney said. “I think this is part of a larger plan for David Stearns, who is willing to put pressure on his shoulders with the way this week played out.”
How would Mets trades for Tarik Skubal and Fernando Tatis Jr. look?
Trading for the best pitcher in baseball and a top star who are both still in their 20s would be bold. But also fit the sort of strategy Mets President David Stearns believes in. That being if you are going to give up a lot of money and trade assets for a player, it should be a star in their 20s, like Juan Soto.
Both deals will cost New York almost all of its elite young talent. Fortunately, the club has one of the best farm systems in the game. So what would Skubal and Tatis, Jr. trades look like?
Despite being in the final year of his contract, the Detroit Tigers pitcher will cost the Mets much more. The team reportedly views stud prospect Nolan McLean as untouchable. That probably means Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Carson Benge will be in the deal. All of them are three of the top five prospects in the team’s system.
Fernando Tatis, Jr. stats: .268 AVG, .368 OBP, .446 SLG, .814 OPS, 25 HR, 71 RBI, 111 R, 32 SB
The trade could also include Ronny Mauricio or Luisangel Acuna, and another top-five prospect like Jett Williams. Furthermore, depending on what Detroit wants, the Mets might also include one-time All-Star Kodai Senga.
In a deal for Tatis, Jr., the Mets have a bit more leverage. It has been reported for some time that the San Diego Padres badly need to slash payroll. If the richest owner in MLB, Steve Cohen, were willing to take the eight years and well over $200 million left on Xander Bogaerts’ contract — along with Tatis, Jr. — it would save the Pads close to $50 million a year over much of the next decade.
The Mets would still need to give up some good trade assets. But the best of the best would still be toward a Skubal trade. So prospects like Ryan Clifford and/or Elian Pena might be packaged along with big league talent such as Mark Vientos and Brett Baty in a deal.
