“The Mets, of course, have an acute need for an ace to lead their rotation,” wrote Buster Olney when exploring the clubs that might chase Tarik Skubal. With Skubal approaching free agency following the 2026 season, the chances of the trade, especially with the Mets, were gaining a lot of traction. Amid all this, an important question lies: Does the ace really want to leave the Tigers? Well, as per the new updates, there’s an uncertainty.

MLB insiders have already begun whispering about what it would take to land him. Multiple reports suggest Skubal is seeking an extension in the $400 million range. This figure would shatter records and make him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. With Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, the Mets seemed a perfect fit. Everything lined up perfectly—until it didn’t.

Then Jeff Passan walked onto The Rich Eisen Show and changed the entire conversation. “Not only would the Tigers like to re-sign Tarik Skubal, Tarik Skubal would like to stay in Detroit,” Passan stated. “He really likes it there. He loves A.J. Hinch, Chris Fetter, and Robin Lund, the pitching coaches there, who are excellent. And they’re the organization that not only took a chance on him, but helped him turn into the best pitcher in the world.”

This is now about loyalty. The Tigers drafted Skubal in the ninth round back in 2018 when 254 other picks came off the board first. They stuck with him through Tommy John surgery. They developed him from a ninth-round gamble into a unanimous Cy Young winner. That kind of organizational commitment creates bonds that no bidding war can easily break.

But here’s where it gets even more complicated for the Mets. Passan raised the critical question Detroit faces: “If you’re the Tigers, you have to ask yourself the question, if we’re losing him at the end of this season, and all we’re going to get out of it is a draft pick, then is it worth it potentially to consider trading him?” This isn’t just about Skubal wanting to stay; it’s about the Tigers potentially never letting him reach free agency at all. If Detroit trades him before the deadline, the Mets are completely out of the picture.

The front office in Queens isn’t sitting around hoping things magically work out. If the Mets wait until after the 2026 season to go for Skubal, they might miss out completely. They need help with their rotation right now. That sense of urgency has made David Stearns switch to Plan B, which is to sign Framber Valdez. MLB Network host Matt Vasgersian has predicted the Mets will be the team to land Valdez this offseason.

Valdez had a record of 13 wins and 11 losses in 2025, with a 3.66 ERA. This was the third time in four years that he pitched more than 190 innings. He has pitched 973 innings in 154 starts since joining the Astros rotation in 2020. According to Spotrac, Valdez is projected to earn $200 million over six seasons. He offers exactly what the Mets need: durability, postseason experience from Houston’s 2022 World Series run, and an ability to anchor a rotation.

This offseason will decide the fate of the clubhouse for the 2026 summer.

Announcer’s challenge! Tigers must lock in their ace, Tarik Skubal

The conversation around Tarik Skubal’s future doesn’t only involve trade rumors or contract projections. Now it includes public accountability, with people in Detroit making it plain what keeping him would mean for the team. Dan Dickerson said, “You want to win a World Series in 2026? You keep Tarik Skubal.”

His comments put pressure on Scott Harris and Chris Ilitch to view Skubal as a long-term asset rather than a trade piece. He emphasized that effective front offices secure core players early to avoid complications with free agency or inflation. For Harris, extending Skubal will be a test of his ability to build and maintain a core rather than constantly reshaping it.

Dickerson shifted the focus from accountability to ownership, emphasizing that Ilitch needed to invest more by considering opt-outs, incentives, or deferred arrangements with the phrase “figure out the number.” Detroit supporters are tired of slow, patient strategies, and losing a Cy Young-caliber homegrown ace would suggest that financial caution is prioritized over winning.

Keeping Skubal could hinder the Tigers’ progress as their young players approach their peak. Extending him signals the team’s commitment to competing rather than just developing talent. Skubal is pivotal, showcasing whether the team aims to compete at the highest level.