Mets Set to Meet With Tarik Skubal

The Mets, seeking to upgrade a rotation that struggled during a 74-win season, are scheduled to meet with marquee free agent Tarik Skubal next week. The two-time Cy Young winner is expected to pursue a record-setting contract that could make him baseball’s highest-paid pitcher, and he is expected to decide before MLB’s collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, though no deal is imminent. The Dodgers, Mets and Padres are among the potential contenders, and Skubal is set to meet with teams in California; the Cubs reportedly are unlikely to bid. Skubal’s reported West Coast preference and successful stint in Los Angeles could favor the Dodgers, while Blake Snell says he has urged Skubal to stay and believes the Dodgers have a good chance. The Mets have not committed to a particular roster-building approach, and baseball operations president David Stearns has generally avoided long-term deals for pitchers, although owner Steve Cohen is expected to support upgrades. The Dodgers have the financial capacity to compete but may resist a very long contract as they weigh its cost against their broader roster and long-term plans.