No, it's not Tarik Skubal. A hypothetical trade sees the Royals' dominant lefty heading to Queens for a key offseason upgrade.
In the newest prediction for the New York Mets this offseason, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter sees New York as the place for left-handed starter Cole Ragans to land in a potential trade.
The prediction comes as the Mets have had their name tied to multiple star pitchers such as Tarik Skubal and Dylan Cease, who have already decided to join the Toronto Blue Jays after a link to the Mets in the weeks prior.
Now, instead of going for one of these top players that would cost a huge amount either in contract terms or trade value, New York may be wise to lower its target slightly to make sure it has what it takes to rebuild their rotation.
Ragans started 13 games for the Kansas City Royals last season due to a rotator cuff injury that sidelined him for a significant chunk of time. In his shortened 2025 season, Ragans posted a 4.67 ERA. It’s not an eye-popping number by any means, but Ragans should still be somebody that president of baseball operations David Stearns targets this offseason.
The southpaw is just 27 years old and won’t become a free agent until after the 2028 season. The three years of guaranteed team control would be crucial for the Mets, who already owe huge sums of money to other layers on the roster. Getting Ragans in Queens for multiple years before needing to cough up a large contract would provide the Mets with some much-needed financial flexibility.
It becomes even more desirable when you take a look past his injury-riddled 2025 campaign. Ragans made his first All-Star appearance in 2024, finishing the season with a 3.14 ERA across 186 ⅓ innings, striking out 223 batters in the process. His 10.8 SO/9 was enough to lead the American League that season. His 2024 season was good enough to make his way into Cy Young conversations, finishing fourth in voting.
Despite the step back last season, Ragans’ strikeout excellence was on display yet again in 2025. He punched out a ridiculous 98 batters in 61 ⅔ innings, enough for a 14.3 SO/9. His expected ERA was in the 96th percentile at just 2.67, and he recorded an expected batting average of .189. The baseline numbers may not pop off the page for Ragans, but when looking a bit deeper, his numbers suggest he is one of the most dangerous pitchers in baseball.
Reuter has the Mets trading away RHP Jonah Tong, OF Carson Benge, IF/OF Ronny Mauricio, 1B Ryan Clifford in his trade hypothetical. It’s a lofty price to pay, but it isn’t near the price the Mets would need to make a move for Skubal. With three years left of team control and a proven track record of dominance on the mound, a Ragans-Mets link-up could be perfect for New York this offseason.