Mets Could Face Four Other Teams Trying To Sign Skubal

The New York Mets are expected to be all-in on marquee starter Tarik Skubal, which isn’t exactly front page news. But some of their competition is, according a report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com that lists five Skubal suitors with two surprising teams. 

First, though, let's cover the Skubal intel that’s about the Mets. According to one anonymous AL executive that Feinsand used as a source, Skubal will be a Met if you go by the financial logic and the need. 

“If the Mets want him, he’s going to be a Met,” one American League executive said. “There are only so many teams that can even get involved in the bidding for a player like him, and the Mets have more of a need for him than anyone else.”

The big question beyond that is the number of years that might be involved in a deal. Most of the focus has been on GM David Stearns, who’s been reluctant to go with short-term deals, but that focus is wrong for one specific reason:

Owner Steve Cohen.

Cohen likes to acquire stars, and he doesn’t care about length or the amount of money. That explains the logic the executive used, and you can use the deal for Juan Soto deal as a prime example, especially after Stearns' rough offseason last year.  

On to the other teams, especially the two surprising ones. Is there fire behind the smoke with these two names or are they just being thrown out for effect?

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are currently playing a waiting game with free agent first baseman Jake Bauers, as they’ve extended a qualifying offer to see if he accepts it. If he rejects it, which he most likely will, first base will become a position of need. 

There’s also William Contreras, the catcher and World Series MVP who’s currently a year from free agency. The Brewers will listen on offers for him, but there’s no logic in Feinsand’s report that would indicate a sudden shift to a top star like Skubal. 

Toronto Blue Jays

This one’s more viable. The Blue Jays have emerged in the last year as a team that’s willing to spend big to get into or back to the World Series, although this didn’t exactly go well for them. That puts Skubal on the list, but given the lack of success Toronto had this year, would they really go back to the well on a 30-year old pitcher with a history of arm trouble. 

That leaves the Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, which equals a bidding war. The Mets wil obviously be involved, but we’re about to find out what Skubal values the most in his upcoming baseball choice.