Padres, Mets Emerge as Potential Tarik Skubal Suitors

WHO:

MLB.com - Jon Heyman said the Mets are “probably the favorite” to sign Skubal; he also listed the Giants, Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers as potential participants.

MLB Trade Rumors - Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported San Diego’s interest in Tarik Skubal.

MLB Trade Rumors - José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones led the group that bought the Padres from the Seidler family.

Sportskeeda - Tarik Skubal is identified as an ace and as the top free agent in the offseason discussed in the article.

Sportskeeda - The article says MLB’s big-market franchises are expected to pursue Skubal.

NY Post - The New York Mets are included among the likely suitors for Skubal.

Sportskeeda - The article reports that the San Diego Padres have expressed strong interest in Skubal.

WHAT:

MLB.com - Tarik Skubal will turn 30 on Nov. 20.

CBS Sports - The Padres are also linked to Seiya Suzuki, Shota Imanaga and Nippon Professional Baseball third baseman Teruaki Sato.

CBS Sports - Adrian Morejon prefers to remain a reliever, despite drawing interest as a starter; he is 28 and was ranked the offseason’s second-best free agent based on the possibility he could start.

CBS Sports - The Cubs hope to add three established starting pitchers and are disinclined to pursue Skubal.

CBS Sports - The Mets finished 2026 with a 74-88 record, last in their division. Rookies Carson Benge and Nolan McLean finished in the top four of Rookie of the Year voting.

CBS Sports - The Mets are not seeking a major roster overhaul after last season; David Stearns said extensive turnover created an “uncapped downside scenario.”

MLB.com - Skubal is scheduled to meet with the Mets, and he plans to hold multiple meetings with teams in California; the Mets have not confirmed the meeting.

CBS Sports - The Mets have a meeting scheduled with Tarik Skubal later this week, according to the New York Post.

CBS Sports - Mets owner Steve Cohen is expected to push for Skubal, while president of baseball operations David Stearns has historically been reluctant to sign pitchers to large, long-term contracts.

CBS Sports - Nolan McLean and Christian Scott are the only locks for the Mets’ 2027 rotation.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Padres finished the 2026 season with an estimated luxury-tax payroll of $269.43 million and an actual payroll of about $224 million; their projected 2027 payroll is about $193 million under both measures, including arbitration estimates.

MLB Trade Rumors - MLB Trade Rumors projected Skubal would receive a nine-year, $425 million contract, surpassing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million guarantee and the $43.333 million pitcher annual-value record.

MLB Trade Rumors - San Diego’s franchise-record contract is Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million extension. The Padres have given Manny Machado a $30 million annual value, and Machado and Xander Bogaerts are the only players to receive Padres free-agent deals exceeding $200 million.

MLB Trade Rumors - Michael King opted out; the Padres declined Nick Pivetta’s option, valued at two years and $32 million. Casey Mize and Robbie Ray are unlikely to return, while Walker Buehler, Griffin Canning, and Lucas Giolito became free agents.

MLB Trade Rumors - Randy Vásquez is San Diego’s only returning pitcher who started more than six games during the season. The status of Joe Musgrove and whether Yu Darvish will continue his MLB career are uncertain.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Padres offered Adrian Morejon a qualifying offer and would receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round if he signs elsewhere. Signing a qualifying-offer recipient would cost San Diego its second- and fifth-highest draft picks and $1 million in international bonus-pool space.

MLB Trade Rumors - Skubal is ineligible for a qualifying offer because his midseason move from Detroit to the Dodgers disqualified him. No other free-agent starting pitcher besides Trevor Rogers received a qualifying offer.

Sportskeeda - The Padres’ reported interest in Skubal prompted fan reactions, including the quote, “Dodgers cannot let this happen.”

Sportskeeda - The article describes Skubal’s valuation as a record valuation.

NY Post - The article raises questions about which potential suitors can afford Skubal, which are willing to spend heavily on a starting pitcher, and which team will sign him.

WHERE:

CBS Sports - The GM Meetings are being held in Las Vegas.

MLB.com - Skubal’s planned meetings with teams are in California.

WHY:

CBS Sports - The Padres’ new ownership group is described as seeming willing to spend in its first offseason.

CBS Sports - Historically, top clients of agent Scott Boras take the largest contract offer, regardless of the team situation.

CBS Sports - The Mets need more impact starting pitching; the article says Justin Hagenman, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong are next in line for starts, and Tylor Megill is expected back from Tommy John surgery early next year.

CBS Sports - San Diego’s only rotation locks are Joe Musgrove and Randy Vásquez; Musgrove has not started since the 2024 postseason.

MLB Trade Rumors - The Padres need to rebuild nearly their entire rotation after departures and uncertain availability among returning pitchers.

NY Post - The article frames affordability and willingness to spend on a starter as central factors in Skubal’s potential destination.

HOW:

CBS Sports - The Padres would surrender their second- and fifth-highest draft picks and $1 million in international bonus-pool space if they signed Trevor Rogers, who received a qualifying offer.

The Mets are reportedly favorites to sign ace Tarik Skubal, with a meeting planned. San Diego is also pursuing Skubal as new owners appear willing to spend. His expected record-setting contract could reshape the market, while the Cubs are unlikely contenders.