The Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to complete the three-peat despite an ultra-aggressive offseason and trade deadline.
The big story at the trade deadline was obviously the Dodgers acquiring Tarik Skubal. However, Skubal will now enter free agency, and while every team would love to have him, his price tag limits suitors. The New York Mets are a team to watch, as Steve Cohen is very aggressive and has no issue approving his team going after expensive players. According to SNY's Chelsea Janes, if Skubal wants to be a Met and Cohen wants him, the Mets will be willing to do anything to make that marriage happen.
"Whether Skubal wants to be a mentor, or the pressure that comes with being the Mets' latest highly paid savior, or the scrutiny of pitching in New York after thriving as one of many stars in Los Angeles, is the biggest variable of all," wrote Janes on Friday. "The general consensus among those in the Mets organization and those who deal with Stearns' front office regularly seems to be that if Cohen decides he wants Skubal, the Mets will pay whatever it takes to get him. So trying to predict whether Skubal will be a Met next year, then, might be as simple as whether Skubal wants them."
The Mets like what they have in Carson Benge, Juan Soto, AJ Ewing and Francisco Lindor. They have to fill some holes in the infield, but the rotation is a bigger concern. They ranked 17th in ERA last season and 23rd in starter ERA. They have Nolan McLean, Zac Thornton and Christian Scott, but they need a real ace.
Skubal has won two Cy Young Awards and was great again this year. He could be the ace they need and take a ton of pressure off the other starters.