If the New York Mets want to return to the playoffs after missing out this year, they need to revamp their starting rotation, and that could begin with trading for reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. But what would a package for an elite ace of Skubal’s caliber look like?

The Mets collapsed in the second half when their starters faltered. After a first-half Cy Young push, Kodai Senga was demoted to Triple-A after struggling upon his return from injury. Sean Manaea lost his rotation spot and moved to the bullpen, finishing with a 5.64 ERA. The Frankie Montas signing flopped. And David Peterson saw his ERA rise from 2.90 in 2024 to 4.22 in 2025.

Mets Have Pieces for Blockbuster Deal

They do have a rising star in Nolan McLean, who flashed dominance in eight starts, hitting 96 mph with a devastating sweeper. He finished the season with a 2.06 ERA, striking out 57 in 48 innings.

The biggest free-agent pitchers this offseason are Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Dylan Cease, and with president of baseball operations David Stearns hesitant to hand out big-money deals to starting pitchers, the Mets will most likely pursue the trade route. One pitcher who could be had for the right price is Skubal.

Even though Skubal is likely to win his second consecutive Cy Young Award, he will be a free agent after the 2026 season and was reportedly $200 million apart in contract talks with the Tigers last year. If Detroit figures it can’t afford to keep Skubal, the franchise would need to trade him to the highest bidder.

The Athletic’s Will Sammon breaks down what a Mets trade package for Skubal would look like.

“Just to provide a general idea, one industry source unaffiliated with the club speculated Detroit may look to ask for two top-level starting pitchers and a position player prospect. In Mets parlance, that means something like [Jonah] Tong, [Brandon] Sproat and prospect Jett Williams,” Sammon reports. “The Mets’ farm system ranks among the league’s best, but such a demand would significantly compromise its health. Perhaps it takes less or involves a major-league player or two; teams in recent years haven’t exactly received jaw-dropping returns for players entering their walk years.”

Skubal would instantly upgrade the Mets rotation and give them a true ace should they return to the postseason. It appears the Mets would not include McLean in a Skubal trade.

In 2025, Skubal finished second in the American League in strikeouts (241), led the AL in ERA (2.21), ERA+ (187) and bWAR (6.6), and topped all of baseball in WHIP (0.891), walks allowed per nine (1.5) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.3).