LAS VEGAS — Tarik Skubal is positioned this week to enter rarefied air among pitchers to have won consecutive American League Cy Young Awards.
The stud Tigers left-hander isn’t a free agent until after next season, but this winter sits as an attractive trade option for a team willing to part with high-end prospects, at the risk of losing Skubal to free agency next November.
The Mets, after a season in which their starting rotation crumbled, certainly have the need for such an ace and most importantly the means to retain him, with owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets.
But the Tigers, with an eye toward contending next season, very easily could choose to keep Skubal for one last run with him.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns would be remiss at these general managers meetings if he didn’t at least ask the Tigers about Skubal, who, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman, never came close to signing an extension with the Tigers, with the sides at least $250 million apart last season.
Mets officials have spoken internally about Skubal, who turns 29 this month.
The belief within is it would take four top prospects to acquire Skubal — perhaps three rated in organization’s the top 10 and another within the top 20.
Presuming the Mets wouldn’t entertain a trade involving top prospect Nolan McLean, who figures heavily into the rotation plans for next season, names such as Carson Benge, Jett Williams, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat would most prominently come into play.
The next wave includes names such as Jacob Reimer, A.J. Ewing, Ryan Clifford, Mitch Voit and Elian Peña.
But even then the Tigers could seek another middle-of-the rotation type pitcher that is major league ready to help fill a gap for 2026.
Could the Mets insert Clay Holmes or David Peterson into a potential deal to lessen the prospect blow?
Holmes can opt out from his contract after next season and Peterson will be headed to free agency.
The Mets were in the hunt last winter for left-hander Garrett Crochet, who was ultimately dealt to Boston for four prospects.
The rebuilding White Sox were highly motivated to deal Crochet before he reached free agency, but the Tigers could take a wait-and-see approach, potentially waiting until next year’s trade deadline to deal Skubal, albeit for a diminished return.
Crochet, after his arrival to the Red Sox, reached agreement on a six-year contract worth $170 million.
The chance of the Mets (or any team) extending Skubal before his contract expires is lessened by the fact he is represented by Scott Boras, who more often than not takes his clients to free agency.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto holds the record for a free agent pitcher with the $325 million contract over 12 years he received from the Dodgers after the 2023 season, but Skubal’s next pact could eclipse that deal.
Skubal last season pitched to a 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts in 195 ¹/₃ innings over 31 starts.
As it stands, the Mets are without a true ace — although McLean showed glimpses last season that he can potentially become that type of pitcher.
Overall, the rookie pitched to a 2.06 ERA in eight starts following his call-up from Triple-A Syracuse in August.
If the Mets look into free agency for a potential ace, names such as Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez and Framber Valdez are the most prominent.
Such a signing would be a departure from Stearns’ approach in his first two offseasons heading the front office.
Previously Stearns has shown a propensity for lower risk deals, the results of which have been mixed, with Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Griffin Canning and Holmes as the most prominent starting pitchers he has signed.
