The New York Mets need an ace. There is no question about that, but former MLB GM Jim Bowden thinks they should pay a king’s ransom to get one. His proposed package for Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal is the kind of offer that has a fanbase cringing.
Bowden’s suggested Mets return: right-handed pitchers Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, and infielders Jett Williams and Ronny Mauricio — is one of the few combinations that could realistically keep the Tigers at the table.
It also shows how steep the price becomes when an ace with Skubal’s resume might even be available.
From New York’s side, Skubal is an obvious target.
The Mets’ rotation struggled last season, finishing 18th in MLB in ERA, and they enter the winter with multiple openings. They need a No. 1 starter who can stabilize the staff and shift the ceiling of the entire roster. If they can trade for Skubal, they also have the financial muscle to extend him long-term.
But at what cost?
Tong is the centerpiece of the deal. He was one of the breakout arms in the minors this year, posting a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings between Double A and Triple A. Even a rocky five-start MLB debut didn’t dent his stock much. If he continues developing, he could be a mid-rotation arm with top-end flashes.
Sproat, the Mets’ 2023 second-round pick, brings similar upside. He has struck out 244 hitters in 237 1/3 innings in the minots and reached the majors in September. He’s close to MLB-ready and would likely earn immediate innings in Detroit.
Williams, the Mets’ 2022 first-round pick, returned strong after missing most of 2024 with injuries. He’s undersized at 5-foot-7, but he’s a dynamic athlete who can play almost anywhere defensively, hits for sneaky power, runs well and works counts. He fits the Tigers’ preference for young, versatile position players.
Mauricio remains the wild card. The tools are there, power, arm strength, athleticism, but the chase rates and on-base issues have kept him from sticking. A fresh start and new coaching may be exactly what he needs.
So would this be worth it for the Mets?
Skubal is coming off back-to-back Cy Young seasons, and pitchers like that rarely become trade candidates. Tong, Sproat, Williams and Mauricio is a massive price, but that’s the reality when you go shopping for an ace. It works if they can extend him the way they did with Francisco Lindor.
If the Mets believe Skubal makes them an immediate contender, then the price in prospects may be worth it.
