An update on the New York Mets‘ pursuit of a blockbuster Tarik Skubal trade is going to further annoy already frustrated fans.
This has been a rough week for Mets fans. On Monday, they found out that not only was All-Star closer Edwin Diaz not returning, but he was also 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 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 just want a big-time win from the organization. A trade for AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal would certainly turn many frowns upside down.
This week, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed that the Mets’ brain trust “are now debating whether to go all in with big-time young players for Skubal, or wait until winter and try to do a free-agent deal for what will likely be record bucks.”
There is certainly nothing wrong with that. The two-time All-Star is set to hit MLB free agency after the season and isn’t a lock to stick around after 2026. So, there is certainly risk in a trade. However, to make one New York will need to give up a lot, and team President David Stearns may be unwilling to do whatever it takes to get a trade for the superstar pitcher done.
Nolan McLean would be ‘off limits’ in a Tarik Skubal trade
According to Heyman, “Stearns is among the majority of execs who love prospects and may be loath to gut his system for a pitcher who could leave after 2026.” Furthermore, any trade would likely need to include late-season breakout star Nolan McLean. However, the star prospect is reportedly “off limits.”
That means elite prospects like Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams would need to be put in a potential trade. However, Heyman reminds fans that Stearns was unwilling to put either in a multi-prospect package to land ace pitcher Garrett Crochet last offseason. While Crochet is not as good as Skubal, he isn’t far off and had two years left on his contract at the time.
While NY Mets fans would love a blockbuster Tarik Skubal trade, based on the MLB insider’s report, it seems very unlikely.
