How Mets could pair Tarik Skubal with another All-Star pitcher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets are expected to be one of the top bidders for this year's top free agent, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award-winning starter who finished the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, should be heavily pursued.
New York is likely to be a frontrunner for Skubal for one simple reason.
Steve Cohen's money and spending habits. The Mets owner has never been afraid to hand out large contracts.
If the Mets can land Skubal, they shouldn't stop upgrading the rotation from there, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote.
"If Bo Bichette opts out and New York uses those "savings" to get across the finish line in its impending negotiations with Tarik Skubal, trading for a corner infielder might be the way they go.
"But even if they do sign Skubal, the Mets could still use another starting pitcher, lest they pin their hopes and dreams on Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga again," Miller wrote.
Miller tabbed Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan as the Mets' primary trade target.
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An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, Ryan is a bona fide ace who hasn't posted an ERA above 3.79 since 2023.
He's consistently been included in trade rumors in each of the last two years, but the Twins haven't pulled the trigger.
Pairing Ryan with Skubal would dramatically strengthen New York's rotation, especially since Nolan McLean appears to be a frontline starter for years to come.
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