Mets to meet with free-agent ace Tarik Skubal next week

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Nov 10, 2026

Published in Baseball

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LAS VEGAS — The Mets are meeting with free-agent ace Tarik Skubal next week in Los Angeles, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News, but it’s too early for David Stearns to be able to comment on the premier starting pitcher on the market. The club’s president of baseball operations can’t do that until Skubal becomes a Met.

As the MLB general manager meetings got underway Tuesday at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the question of when Skubal would sign was at the top of mind. With only 20 days remaining on the current CBA, a lockout appears unavoidable. It could be in the best interest of Skubal and his agent, Scott Boras, to get a deal done before Dec. 1.

There is a precedent. Max Scherzer signed with the Mets on Nov. 29, 2021, two days before the last lockout. It followed a frenzied weekend that saw the Mets sign Eduardo Escobar, Starling Marte and Mark Canha.

But for all of the talk about the potential for a free agent frenzy ahead of this next lockout, so far, the 2027-28 MLB offseason is moving at the same pace it usually does. It’s business as usual until told otherwise, which is what Stearns has gleaned, and it’s how he’s instructed his front office to operate.

“It seems like a normal off season,” Stearns said Tuesday during the open executive availability. “That is the feel for me when I talk to agents. When I talk to other executives, that’s the feedback I’m getting from them as well. The pacing of all of this seems very representative of what we’ve experienced.”

If that’s the case, then it could be a relatively uneventful month. The sentiment from other executives is that this is an evaluation period. They aren’t hesitant to make a move if there is one they see as beneficial for their club. Still, it takes two to tango when it comes to trades, and typically, the trade market doesn’t materialize until later in November or even in December.

Outside of starting pitching, Stearns said the Mets are targeting help at first base.

“We think Jared Young has the ability to really be part of a solution there,” Stearns said. “I do think we’re going to look to supplement that, whether it’s someone who takes regular at-bats, someone who splits time with JY, we’ll see. But I do expect us to supplement that position.”

Young is coming off of a career year, hitting .266 with 17 doubles, three triples and nine home runs in 103 games, the most he’s ever played in a big league season. A left-handed hitter, Young has better splits against right-handed hitters than left, though he did hit lefties at a higher clip when given more playing time.

Stearns said he would be open to another left-handed hitter at first base, presumably one with good splits against lefties.

Young’s season ended after a collision with pitcher Nolan McLean resulted in a concussion, but Stearns said he’s in a “perfect” spot now, having fully recovered.

Jorge Polanco, the player the Mets signed last year to play first base, isn’t someone the club can confidently pencil in until they know he’s fully healthy. His season ended in August with Achilles surgery, and he’s expected to be healthy enough to participate in baseball activities before the start of spring training, though he’ll be on a progression to start camp (if it begins on time).

Polanco will factor into the DH spot next season, along with others.

There aren’t many other position groups the Mets are looking for outside help to improve. Bo Bichette will stay at third base and Marcus Semien at second. Stearns believes Semien will have a better season in 2027 and sees that he’s motivated to perform better. There are positional adjustments the Mets have asked him to make that he’s working on this winter. Stearns also cited internal candidates that can fill in at second base.

He doesn’t want to eliminate the possibility of a trade or a signing at any position, and while he’s very high on the club’s farm system, he doesn’t want to take anyone off the table when it comes to using them in a trade that could improve the team.

“We have our internal rankings of our prospects. I think it’s foolish for me to say that anyone is completely untouchable, but we certainly have guys we think very highly of,” Stearns said. “That would be very difficult.”

So, the big question that will only get bigger as the month goes on is Skubal. Stearns has shown that he will pull the trigger on megadeals when he feels it’s necessary, as he did for Juan Soto two years ago. Owner Steve Cohen could also be a factor. There doesn’t seem to be any sort of mandate requiring Stearns to cut payroll or at least cut back. If Cohen wants him, he’ll give Stearns the green light to go after him.

The choice is up to Skubal. Until he makes one, it’s status quo for the Mets.