Metsburst cover SuperJumbo (Image via Getty) There is growing talk about the New York Mets trying to trade for left-handed starter Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. Nothing has been agreed, but the idea keeps coming up because of how good Skubal has been and how much he could lift a contender.Any team that wants to reach the World Series from the National League will likely have to go through the Los Angeles Dodgers. That makes a top starter like Skubal one of the most valuable trade targets on the market.
What a possible trade could cost
One suggested package, discussed by Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, has the New York Mets sending prospects Carson Benge and Jonah Tong plus reliever Clay Holmes to Detroit for Skubal.Another idea, mentioned by insider Jim Bowden, shows how hard it could be for New York to win a bidding war. In that scenario, the Dodgers could offer a deal built around starter Tyler Glasnow.These examples show the same thing. To get Tarik Skubal, a team would have to give up real, high-end value right now. Skubal is also one year away from free agency. That makes him attractive as a short-term ace but adds risk for the team that trades for him.
How Tarik Skubal would help the New York Mets
If the New York Mets added Skubal, their rotation would change overnight. He would join Jacob deGrom and Freddy Peralta to form a three-man group that could match any opponent in a playoff series.Stronger starts would also take pressure off the bullpen. Manager Buck Showalter would not need to lean as heavily on relievers early in games. The move would show that the Mets are focused on winning now, even if it costs them part of their future depth.
Why the Detroits Tigers might listen
Tarik Skubal (Image via Getty)
Trading a Cy Young winner is a big step, but Detroit Tiger could see benefits. Benge and Tong would add young talent close to the majors. Holmes would give them a proven late-inning arm right away.There is also the money side. Keeping Skubal into his next arbitration year could push his salary to around $32 million in 2026. If Detroit thinks he will leave in free agency after that season, trading him now guarantees a return instead of risking nothing later.The downside is clear. They would be moving one of the best pitchers they have developed in years, and the success of the trade would depend on prospects turning into productive major leaguers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ influence
Even if they are not part of a Mets-Tigers deal, the Dodgers affect the market. Because they have the depth to offer names like Glasnow, other teams have to bid higher to compete. That can raise Detroit’s asking price and make any deal harder to finish.If the New York Mets did land Skubal, Los Angeles would face a stronger rival in the NL. At the same time, the threat of a Dodgers offer can push other teams to stretch their own limits.
Pros and cons for each team
For the New York Mets
• Add a true frontline starter • Build a playoff-ready rotation • Make a clear win-now moveBut they would: • Give up top prospects • Lose a reliable reliever in Holmes • Risk losing Skubal after one season
For the Detroit Tigers
• Restock the farm system • Improve the bullpen • Avoid a very large arbitration salaryBut they would: • Trade away their best pitcher • Rely on prospects to deliver • Face criticism if the return falls short
For the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Benefit from a market that forces others to overpay • Keep flexibility to make their own moveBut they would: • Deal with a stronger Mets team if the trade happens • Feel pressure to answer with a major addition
Why Tarik Skubal is so valuable
Tarik Skubal was born in Hayward, California and grew up in Kingman, Arizona. He was a ninth-round draft pick in 2018. He also had Tommy John surgery in college before reaching the majors.His last two seasons explain the interest. In 2024 he posted a 2.15 ERA with 220 strikeouts in 180 innings and led the American League in both. In 2025 he followed with a 2.30 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 175 innings. He won the Cy Young Award in both years.Those numbers place him among the very best starters in the sport.
Who benefits most if it happens
In the short term, the New York Mets would gain the most. Their rotation would become one of the strongest in baseball right away. The Tigers’ outcome would depend on the players they receive. If the prospects develop and Holmes stabilises the bullpen, the move could support them for years. If not, they would have traded an ace for too little.Also read: MLB trade rumors: Atlanta Braves might acquire $35 million Chicago Cubs star ahead of deadline; Robert Suarez key trade asset?The Dodgers remain the main obstacle for any NL contender. Whether they trade for Skubal or force others to pay more, their position shapes every version of this rumour. For now, it is only talk. But the fact that this idea keeps coming up shows how one elite pitcher could shift the balance in the National League.