MLB Rumors: Mets Deep In Trade Market For One Big Need

January 06, 2026 , , ,
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza jogs off the field during 2025 game.

The New York Mets are deep in the pitching market.

With too many 2026 rotation questions and a clear need for a true No. 1 type, the Mets are circling multiple lanes at once, including a blockbuster trade for Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal, talks around Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, a longer-control swing on Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera, and even a free-agent angle on Framber Valdez if the contract structure fits.

Mets linked to Skubal, Peralta, and Cabrera trades

Skubal is the dream scenario because he is the rarest thing in the sport, a two-time American League Cy Young winner, and his availability is still being treated as a real possibility. 

If the Mets want certainty, Peralta checks a lot of boxes right now. The 29-year-old is coming off a monster 2025 season where he led the National League with 17 wins and posted a 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 176.2 innings, plus a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting. The catch is control, as Peralta is only signed through 2026, even if his $8 million salary makes him an affordable ace for a contender. 

Cabrera is the longer-play option. The 27-year-old broke through in 2025 with a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 137.2 innings across 26 starts, and he is controlled through 2028, which naturally pushes the price higher. For the Mets, this is the upside bet, banking on their ability to sharpen his command and keep him healthy.

Framber Valdez free-agent option and why Mets urgency is real

If the trade costs get too steep, Valdez is the type of free-agent stabilizer that changes the shape of a season. The 32-year-old is a two-time All-Star and a ground-ball machine, coming off a 2025 line of 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA and 192 innings for the Houston Astros, and his workload profile is exactly what the Mets have lacked. 

Since 2022, he ranks second in regular-season innings pitched at 767.2, which matters for a club that needs someone who can take the ball every five days and stop the domino effect of bullpen games. The Mets are reportedly most interested if Valdez would consider a shorter-term deal with a higher average annual value, which would let them add a proven arm without sacrificing premium prospects.

The Mets know they cannot walk into 2026 hoping everything breaks right. Nolan McLean flashing frontline upside helps, but the rest of the mix is filled with risk, from Kodai Senga’s recent injury history to Sean Manaea coming off a 5.64 ERA last season, and the limited ceiling of innings-eaters like David Peterson and Clay Holmes. 

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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