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...
MLB Just Weighed In On The Anthony Volpe Play Yankees Fans Hated
The final night of the Yankees season carried plenty of frustration already, and one sequence in particular left the home crowd buzzing long after the play was over. Anthony Volpe drove a fly ball toward the wall in the loss to the Rays, and the ball appeared to have a chance to leave the yard before a fan reached over the fence and pulled it back into the field of play. The call on the field was not the end of the story, as the play was reviewed and the hit was changed from a home run to a double.
Major League Baseball later weighed in and took action, determining the fan had interfered with a ball in play and ejecting him from Yankee Stadium. For the Yankees, it became another harsh footnote in a season-ending defeat that also closed out the best-of-five series in a 3-0 sweep by Tampa Bay, a result that only sharpened the sting of what had happened on that one swing. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Infield Disaster Just Put Two Bronx Futures In Doubt
The Yankees infield issues spilled into ugly territory in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, when three errors in one inning helped sink them against the Rays and marked the first time in franchise postseason history that had happened. It was the kind of defensive meltdown that can linger long after October, especially for a team already weighing what its infield might look like next season.
Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. both sit at the center of that uncertainty, with their spots in the picture far from settled. Manager Aaron Boone has already floated the possibility of moving Luis Garcia Jr. to second base, a wrinkle that could reshape the alignment in a hurry and leave the Bronx staring at more questions than answers when it comes to how this infield is supposed to hold together. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Fans May Hate What This Means For Boone And Cashman
The Yankees postseason push has plenty hanging over it, but the future of the dugout and front office appears to be far less uncertain than the present tense. MLB insider Jim Bowden said senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone are expected to be back next year no matter how the current playoff series against the Rays ends, a reality that will sit uneasily with fans looking for change after another round of scrutiny.
Cashman is reportedly headed toward a new contract as his current one expires at seasons end, while Boone is already signed through 2027 and continues to have the backing of team leadership. Boone has drawn fresh criticism in recent days, and with the Yankees still in the middle of a pivotal playoff run, the organization seems prepared to stay the course rather than treat this October as an evaluation of its top decision-makers. [Read more 🡒]