New York Mets scheduled a meeting with free agent starting pitcher Tarik Skubal in California for next week, MLB reported.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network first reported the upcoming meeting, which was subsequently detailed by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Skubal is a two-time Cy Young Award winner who earned the honors in 2024 and 2025.
“It is understandable that Skubal appears to be the primary target [for the Mets] right now,” Heyman wrote, noting that the left-hander will hold multiple meetings with teams in California.
During an appearance on MLB Network on Monday, Heyman stated that he believes the New York franchise is “probably the favorite” to land Skubal, the top available player in the winter free-agent market. The team has not confirmed the report.
The scheduled session takes place two weeks prior to December 1, the date when the Major League Baseball collective bargaining agreement expires, Excelsior reported. That deadline could accelerate negotiations for clubs aiming to complete an agreement under current rules.
David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets, identified adding a top-tier starting pitcher as a primary winter priority for the club. New York held the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball in 2026, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers, yet missed the postseason for the second year.
Club owner Steve Cohen declined to comment on the pitcher, while Scott Boras, the agent for Skubal, also avoided making statements regarding the meeting or its date.
The San Diego Padres have already expressed interest in the left-hander, Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network reported on Monday night. Skubal will turn 30 years old on November 20.
The Los Angeles Dodgers also remain in the mix to retain the pitcher after acquiring him from the Detroit Tigers before the 2026 trade deadline in exchange for three prospects. Skubal finished the 2026 campaign with a 12-7 record and a 2.72 ERA split between Detroit and Los Angeles.
Alongside Cristopher Sánchez, Skubal stands as one of only two pitchers to accumulate at least 590 innings across the last three seasons. Heyman noted that the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays could also be involved in the bidding.
Skubal earned 32 million dollars in 2026, marking a record salary figure for a player reaching a salary arbitration hearing. In free agency, industry watchers view the 10-year, 325 million dollar contract that the Dodgers gave Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a benchmark for top-tier pitching deals.
The upcoming California meetings will shape the early market for the left-hander as major league teams prepare for the approaching December 1 collective bargaining deadline.
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