The Mets are expected to spend this offseason with Tarik Skubal at the top of their wish list, but there’s a real chance they’ll have to pivot if that chase comes up empty.
Skubal, the two-time Cy Young winner, is the prize New York would be fighting several large-market clubs for, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are described as the biggest obstacle standing in the way. If the Mets don’t land him, they still have options to strengthen the rotation, especially alongside Nolan McLean.
One name that keeps popping up as a strong backup plan is Michael King. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer said the Mets should turn their attention back to pitching this winter after focusing heavily on boosting the position-player side.
"Will they continue to operate that way and pay Juan Soto more than they pay their entire starting rotation in 2027? Or do they make a big move for a guy like Michael King to bolster this young rotation?" Rymer wrote.
King checks a lot of boxes for a Mets club looking for impact. He has battled injuries during his career, but when he’s been on the mound, he’s been among the best in baseball. He owns a 1.86 ERA across seven postseason appearances, and Rymer noted that he is one of eight pitchers with at least 450 innings pitched and a 3.00 ERA or lower since 2022.
The Yankees shifted King from the bullpen into the rotation late in the 2023 season, and he has settled in there ever since. The expectation is that he will opt out of his Padres contract and test free agency for a major payday.
If that happens, the Mets should be in the mix. Their chances could get even better if Bo Bichette opts out of his deal and opens up $42 million on the payroll.
In Other News...
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Mark Vientos, Cionel Perez and Tylor Megill add another layer to the puzzle, since each one sits in a different kind of limbo as the Mets sort through possible tenders, trades and outright roster choices. For a club trying to stay flexible, these are the kinds of moves that can feel minor in November and turn out to matter plenty by spring. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Face One Offseason Challenge Steve Cohen Can't Simply Spend Away
Even with Steve Cohens willingness to spend, this winter still looks like a balancing act for the Mets. David Stearns has to piece together a roster that can improve without turning every need into a top-of-market bidding war, and that means looking past the biggest names and into the cheaper corners of the market. Tarik Skubal and Alec Bohm are part of the wider conversation around how the team could upgrade, but the more practical work may come from finding value in players who cost far less.
Names like Austin Nola, Tyler Mahle and Matt Fairbanks fit that part of the plan, giving the Mets a way to add help while keeping some flexibility intact. The challenge is obvious: the club wants to get better now, but it also needs to be disciplined enough to avoid treating every hole as one Cohen can simply cover with another check. What Stearns chooses to prioritize, and which of these lower-cost options the Mets can actually land, will say a lot about how they plan to build this version of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Offseason Pitching Debate Is Getting Harder To Ignore
The Mets offseason pitching search is already being shaped by October, and the latest postseason performances are sharpening the debate. Tarik Skubal and Michael King have helped their stock with strong outings, giving New York more reason to treat them as premium targets as the front office weighs how aggressively to upgrade the rotation.
Elsewhere, the picture is less encouraging for other names on the list. Adrian Morejons shoulder issue has complicated his value, while Kevin Gausmans rough postseason start left more questions than answers as the Mets continue sorting through which arms fit their plan for the winter. [Read more 🡒]