Tigers insider proposed NY Mets trade package for Tarik Skubal is worth the prospects

Few things spark a reaction quite like a name suddenly in play, and Tarik Skubal has done just that. Detroit Tigers insider Cody Stavenhagen dismissed the idea of an extension, but when he floated the New York Mets as a potential trade partner, it immediately commanded attention. A pitcher of his caliber—already a Cy Young winner and tracking toward another—is the sort of asset that shifts conversations from “what if” to “how much is too much?”

There’s a thrill in the unknown, a tension between possibility and practicality. Skubal’s elite credentials are undeniable, and the mere suggestion of him landing in New York is enough to make fans lean in, speculate, and start weighing the stakes. The scenario is tantalizing, setting the stage for a debate that will quickly move from rumor to strategy.

Mets are listed as a logical Tarik Skubal trade partner, with 3 of their top 5 prospects involved

According to Stavenhagen, a package of Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Jett Williams could be enough for Detroit to move on from Skubal, a pitcher he believes won’t re-sign with the club. On paper, parting with three of the Mets’ top five prospects sounds steep. In practice, it should be an automatic yes. Skubal isn’t just good—he’s one of the very few pitchers in the sport who can shift an entire season’s outlook by taking the ball every fifth day.

A Cy Young and Triple Crown winner in 2024, Skubal has somehow found another gear in 2025. He’s pitched to a 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts, 141 hits, and just 33 walks in 195.1 innings. Those aren’t just ace numbers—they’re the kind of numbers that define eras. He’s 28, in his prime, and on track for back-to-back Cy Young Awards. You don’t hesitate when that caliber of arm becomes even remotely available.

The loss would sting, of course. Tong just earned Prospect Pitcher of the Year honors, Sproat flashed his potential late in the 2025 season, and Williams remains one of the organization’s most intriguing long-term talents since being drafted in the first round in 2022. But you must give something to get something, and in this case, you’re trading projection for proven dominance.

Pairing Skubal with Nolan McLean would instantly give the Mets one of baseball’s most formidable one-two punches—a balance of experience and rising star power that could anchor a rotation built to win now and in the future. Yes, Skubal is set to hit free agency, but after seeing what Steve Cohen spent on Juan Soto, meeting the demands for Skubal is well within reason.

If the Mets want to prove they’re done flirting with contention and ready to seize it, this is the move that does it. Prospects bring hope; Skubal brings hardware. Trading for him isn’t just bold, it’s the kind of statement that tells the rest of baseball the Mets aren’t dreaming anymore. They’re looking to collect trophies.