'Nearly everybody' expects Tarik Skubal will join Mets, who 'are downplaying their chances of signing' the ace

A report from earlier this month revealed that the New York Mets were "considered the favorite to land" ace pitcher Tarik Skubal over the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. 

It sounds like what was said during this week's MLB general managers' meetings reinforced such opinions. 

Mets remain frontrunners in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes?

"If there was one glaring takeaway from this week, it’s that nearly everybody in the game expects Skubal to sign with the Mets," Mark Feinsand of the MLB website shared on Thursday. 

While Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has a history of handing shorter-term deals to starters, the perception exists that big-spending team owner Steve Cohen is prepared to once again flex his financial might after his club finished this past season with a record of 74-88.

The Dodgers, who acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in early August of this year, are also expected to compete for Skubal's signature. The San Diego Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays are two other potential destinations for the top prize in free agency. 

"There are other suitors," Feinsand continued, "including the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Padres, though the Mets have both the need and the financial means to give the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner the type of deal he’s likely seeking."

What type of deal is Tarik Skubal seeking?

On Thursday evening, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared that "Skubal and agent Scott Boras are making it clear to teams they have no interest in a short-term deal, and yes, you better come in with an offer exceeding $325M if you want a seat at the high-stakes table." 

It appears the Dodgers aren't ready to offer Skubal such a contract heading into this weekend. 

"The Dodgers are said to prefer a shorter-term deal with a higher average annual value structured similarly to the four-year, $240M contract that Kyle Tucker signed with Los Angeles last winter," Feinsand added. "Skubal, sources say, is not interested in that kind of deal, preferring a long-term pact that will keep him in the same locale well into the next decade."

By all accounts, Skubal is expected to sign with a team before the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association expires on Dec. 1. It sounds like some think the Mets could lock Skubal down at any point. 

That said, Nightengale noted that the Mets "are downplaying their chances of signing Skubal to everyone who’ll listen." The Mets, Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are expected to meet with Skubal before the Thanksgiving holiday. One wonders whether Cohen can say and/or do anything to cause Skubal to cancel his other scheduled get-togethers before Thanksgiving Day arrives.