MLB Trade Rumors: Blockbuster Proposal Lands Tarik Skubal with NY Mets

The New York Mets were so desperate for starting pitching this season that they were forced to call up no less than three prospects to fill out their rotation in September. Not to mention the fact that they sent their ace Kodai Senga to the minors.

A quick fix for the Mets’ rotation just could be soon-to-be two-time Cy Young winner, and arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal. Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report has proposed this blockbuster deal that could get Skubal to Queens.

New York Mets receive:

LHP Tarik Skubal

Detroit Tigers receive:

3B Brett Baty
RHP Nolan McLean (Mets’ No. 1 prospect)
RHP Brandon Sproat (Mets’ No. 5)

Mets fans fell in love with McLean after the youngster’s spectacular breakthrough down the stretch this past season (5-1, 2.06 ERA), but we’re pretty certain they’d quickly be enamoured with Skubal. The ace Tigers hurler has ascended to the top of the baseball world, going 31-10 over the past two seasons, with a 2.30 ERA and 0.90 WHIP while averaging 235 strikeouts in those two years.

For the Tigers, it would be cashing in big-time now and striking while the iron is hot. They must face the fact that they only have one year remaining with Skubal, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season. Let’s just say that the Tigers, who reportedly offered him an $80 million dollar extension last year, won’t be ponying up the $400 million or so it’ll take to re-sign him in free agency. Skubal’s agent is the notorious Scott Boras, and you just know he didn’t take kindly to their previous lowball offer to his client.

So nabbing two elite pitching prospects now, plus a former top infield prospect in Baty, who finally started to show signs of figuring it out at the major league level in 2025 (18 homers, 111 OPS+), would be a very nice return for the Tigers. And the need at third base in Detroit is a natural fit for Baty.

The Tigers simply can’t afford to lose their double Cy guy for nothing, and the return will never be greater than right now.

Who says no?