Mets Still Eyeing Tarik Skubal as Tigers Navigate Uncertain Future
As the offseason rolls into mid-January, Tarik Skubal remains a Detroit Tiger – for now. But even if he’s still toeing the rubber in a Tigers uniform on Opening Day, Detroit’s front office won’t be able to breathe easy until the trade deadline passes in late July.
Unless the team surprises everyone and locks him up with an extension – which seems unlikely at this point – two looming questions will define the season: Will Skubal be traded? And if not, will he walk in free agency?
The Dodgers were the early favorites in the Skubal sweepstakes, with their name consistently tied to the left-hander. But those rumors have cooled, and according to insider David Vassegh, a deal this offseason now appears off the table.
That might sound like a sigh of relief for Tigers fans, but not so fast. Just because the Dodgers have backed off – at least for now – doesn’t mean the coast is clear. The Mets are still lurking, and they may be even more motivated.
According to reporting from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, New York hasn’t taken its eyes off Skubal. And now, per Jon Heyman, the Mets want Skubal – the only question is whether they’re ready to push their chips to the center of the table.
Let’s be clear: the Mets have the prospect capital to make it happen. Their farm system is loaded with big-league-ready talent, and even after parting ways with several franchise cornerstones this winter, they’re still in a position to make a serious play.
Mets in Flux, But Still Dangerous
This has been a strange and, at times, chaotic offseason for the Mets. They’ve parted ways with four core players in rapid succession: Brandon Nimmo was dealt to Texas, Edwin Díaz landed in Los Angeles, Pete Alonso was shipped to Baltimore, and Jeff McNeil ended up in Oakland.
Despite the roster shakeup, owner Steve Cohen has publicly committed to keeping the team’s payroll in 2026 at levels comparable to 2025. The Nimmo-for-Semien deal was essentially a wash financially, and the Mets reportedly sent cash along with McNeil. But with both Díaz and Alonso’s salaries now off the books, there’s significant room to maneuver – and pressure on president of baseball operations David Stearns to do something with that flexibility.
It’s worth noting that either Nimmo or McNeil could’ve been the kind of major-league-ready player Detroit would want in a Skubal deal. Now that both are gone, the Mets will have to dig deeper into their prospect pool.
Fortunately for them, they’ve got options. Detroit has previously shown interest in third baseman Brett Baty, and the Mets’ upper minors are packed with talent that could appeal to a Tigers team looking to build around young, controllable players.
What Comes Next?
The Mets’ offseason has felt disjointed – at times, even directionless. Stearns has a reputation for being methodical and strategic, but from the outside, it looks like New York is still trying to figure out what kind of team it wants to be in 2026.
Are they retooling? Rebuilding?
Reloading?
Whatever the answer, staying in the mix for Skubal could serve multiple purposes: it keeps fans engaged, it signals to the rest of the league that the Mets aren’t punting on the season, and it gives them a shot at adding a legitimate frontline starter.
But for Tigers fans, this isn’t just a storyline – it’s a season-long stress test. Skubal is the kind of pitcher you build around, not trade away. He’s entering his prime, he’s dominant when healthy, and he’s the face of a rotation that finally seems to be turning the corner.
Still, unless Detroit extends him – and again, that’s a big “if” – the trade chatter isn’t going away anytime soon. Whether it’s the Mets, the Dodgers, or another contender waiting in the wings, the Tigers will be fielding calls until the very last minute.
And that’s the reality of baseball in 2026. Where Mets fans see opportunity, Tigers fans see uncertainty. It’s going to be a long, rumor-filled ride to July.
