New York Mets to meet with Tarik Skubal, MLB's biggest free agent

LAS VEGAS — Among the few teams expected to be in the running for Tarik Skubal, the New York Mets will meet with the free agent ace next week, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss publicly. Skubal, a reigning back-to-back Cy Young winner, is expected to break the record for biggest contract ever awarded to a pitcher – currently held by Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million pact with the Los Angeles Dodgers . Drafted by the Detroit Tigers, Skubal was traded to the Dodgers at the 2026 deadline with his original team wanting to get a return before this winter's free agency. Skubal had a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts for Los Angeles in the regular season before making two starts in the playoffs. Skubal, who turns 30 later in November, is widely expected to sign before Major League Baseball's lockout likely begins on Dec. 1.