Nothing would unsettle Philadelphia Phillies fans more than the possibility of facing left hander Tarik Skubal in the NL East in the near future. Skubal is coming off consecutive AL Cy Young seasons with the Detroit Tigers and shows no sign of slowing down as he enters 2026, his final arbitration year before reaching free agency.
He will draw attention all winter as he prepares for what should be a massive payday after 2026. Naturally, his name has appeared in trade speculation as teams consider whether they would be willing to empty their farm system for a single season of Skubal, along with the enormous long term contract it would take to keep him. Spotrac projects him to earn around twenty two and a half million dollars in 2026.
A bold prediction linking Skubal to the Mets would be troubling news for the Phillies. Anthony Castrovince of MLB dot com recently released several bold forecasts for the twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six offseason, which included the idea that the Mets will make a dramatic move and trade for the twenty nine year old ace, adding him to an already competitive NL East.
The Phillies boast a strong rotation and a lineup loaded with All Stars, but dealing with Skubal in a Mets uniform would produce an unpleasant feeling. Philadelphia has edged out Atlanta for two straight division crowns, helped by Chris Sale’s resurgence and his first Cy Young Award in twenty twenty four.
The Mets were already a difficult opponent in the division earlier this year despite lacking a true ace. Adding Skubal as an NL East foe would give New York a major boost in its pursuit of the division title in twenty twenty six.
Skubal wrapped up twenty twenty five with a thirteen and six record, a two point two one ERA and two hundred forty one strikeouts across one hundred ninety five and one third innings. In contrast, the Mets rotation collapsed in the second half, recording a five point three one ERA over sixty five games, which contributed to their eighty three win finish and absence from the postseason.
Owner Steve Cohen may decide that one blockbuster trade could fix everything. Skubal will not be inexpensive. The Mets would need to part with a significant prospect package and possibly some major league talent such as Nolan McLean. Success at the top level demands major investment, something the Phillies understand well with the stars they have paid.
One trade might not instantly turn the Mets into a World Series favorite, but Skubal is a special case. Few pitchers match his ability, and if Cohen is willing to give up anything to acquire him, the Phillies need to be prepared with a response.
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