The New York Mets have been very aggressive in free agency under Steve Cohen, and even with the cloud of a salary cap hanging over the offseason, that likely won't change this year.
A couple of years ago, the Mets made a huge splash and landed Juan Soto. Last offseason, they added Bo Bichette last offseason. The moves have not yielded the Mets a postseason berth, but it's partly because their pitching has let them down.
It's not for a lack of trying to fix it, however. They added Freddy Peralta last offseason and have signed multiple big-name relievers in the last two years. Since the start of 2025, the Mets have a 4.30 ERA from their starting pitchers, ranking 19th. The bullpen has a 3.85 ERA, which ranks 10th in baseball. The Mets need a true ace to add to their promising mix of Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thorton. Well, there is one arm that they need to go all in for this offseason: Tarik Skubal.
Skubal's resume speaks for itself. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and has been great this year. Obviously, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers this year, but he is expected to become one of, if not the, highest-paid pitchers ever this offseason. Every team would love to have Skubal, but there are only a few who will be able to afford him. The Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees and perhaps a handful of others like the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.
The Mets like their group of position players, especially the outfield featuring Soto, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. They could use some help at first base, but their chances of making the postseason hinge on their ability to pitch. Adding Skubal would instantly give them an arm to lean on.
The Mets would have Skubal leading their rotation, giving them a chance to win every five days. It would take a ton of pressure off the rest of the rotation, and Cohen has never shied away from a splashy signing.
The Dodgers will be the Mets' biggest threat to landing Skubal. The Dodgers are reportedly his preferred destination, and they have an inside track to signing him. The Mets are going to have to make an irresistible offer, but Skubal is a player who could single-handedly change the outlook of their rotation.