Morning Briefing: Mets Continue to Be Considered Favorites For Skubal

Good morning, Mets fans!

The expectation around baseball is that top free agent Tarik Skubal will ultimately land with the Mets. According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, one National League executive said that nearly everyone around the game expects Skubal to sign with New York, adding, “I don’t know who else is really even in the conversation.”

The buzz follows this week’s GM Meetings, where Skubal’s market was among the prominent topics. While that doesn’t make a deal inevitable, it suggests the Mets are widely viewed as the frontrunner in the pursuit of the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner.

Now onto the morning briefing!

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The Mets have expressed interest in veteran right-handed reliever Jonathan Loáisiga, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The 32-year-old spent the 2025 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks after working his way back from internal brace surgery on his right UCL, which he underwent in 2024. For more on this development, check out our article.

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In addition to Skubal and Peterson, Robert Murray of FanSided also reported that Phillies infielder Alec Bohm is drawing significant interest, while Milwaukee’s William Contreras is viewed as unlikely to be traded. The Tampa Bay Rays would prefer to keep right-hander Drew Rasmussen, while the Padres are focused heavily on adding pitching. Those developments point to a busy few weeks ahead as teams work to address their biggest needs before the lockout.

The Atlanta Braves have made the biggest financial commitment of the offseason so far, agreeing to a three-year, $35 million contract with reliever Evan Phillips. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the deal, which brings the veteran right-hander to an Atlanta bullpen that already ranks among baseball’s best.