Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, is about to hit the free agent market this winter, and you know what that means: absolute chaos for teams looking for a true ace. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer just threw down the gauntlet, tabbing the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees as the top three suitors for Skubal. But here’s the kicker: Rymer says the Mets might have the “clearest need” for a No. 1 starter out of all of them.
The Contenders, The Rotations, and The Record-Shattering Contract
Hold up, though. The Dodgers and Yankees already boast some killer rotations, right? We’re talking pitchers like Cam Schlittler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Max Fried, and Blake Snell. Their staffs are *stacked*. But Rymer’s take is that the Mets’ rotation just isn’t on that same dominant level. This isn’t just about grabbing a good arm, either. We’re talking potentially the largest free agent contract for a starting pitcher in Major League history. Skubal is gonna command serious cash, and only a few teams can even dream of affording what he wants.
Steve Cohen’s Wallet vs. Everyone Else’s
So, who’s gonna blink first in this high-stakes poker game? Rymer specifically called out Mets owner Steve Cohen here. David Stearns might have questions about shelling out *that much* money for Skubal, but if Cohen decides to step in, it might not even matter what Stearns wants. And Cohen has history, right? He notably stepped up to land Juan Soto on a massive 15-year, $765 million deal. That’s a statement. Imagine Skubal joining Nolan McLean for the Mets; that would instantly create a formidable one-two punch that could reshape their rotation completely. The big questions remain, though: Does Skubal even *want* to head to New York? And do the Dodgers have some kind of hidden edge in this whole thing?
This Skubal sweepstakes is shaping up to be one of the wilder rides of the winter. Keep your eyes peeled, because when Steve Cohen gets involved, you know the league is about to get a show.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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