Mets Set to Match Any Offer for Tarik Skubal
The reported stance will test whether owner Steve Cohen’s readiness to approve huge contracts outweighs front-office caution over Skubal’s age, recent elbow surgery.
Overview
- SNY insider Chelsea Janes reported Wednesday that the New York Mets plan to match any open‑market offer Tarik Skubal receives, positioning New York as a leading suitor.
- Skubal will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season and is widely projected to command a mega‑deal in the roughly $350 million to $500 million range.
- Teams and executives are wrestling with contract length because Skubal turns 30 this November and underwent elbow surgery during the 2026 season, which raises long‑term medical risk.
- Mets president David Stearns has said adding to the rotation is necessary this offseason, while owner Steve Cohen’s past willingness to greenlight record contracts could be decisive.
- Skubal was traded from Detroit to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early August, cannot be tied to a qualifying offer, and his market test will shape how clubs balance immediate pitching need against multi‑year risk.