Mets-Rangers trade has Tarik Skubal rumors engulfing Tigers yet again

On Sunday, the Rangers and Mets pulled off an out-of-nowhere 1:1 trade that swapped Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo. Texas wanted to cut payroll (which they only sorta-kinda did, as Nimmo has a lower AAV but more money left on his contract overall) and just let go of outfielder Adolis García, while the Mets had a little bit of drama with Nimmo, who waived his no-trade clause, and badly need Semien's Gold Glove-winning infield defense.

It's just the first in what should be an offseason full of blockbusters for New York, who experienced perhaps the most embarrassing second-half slide in the history of the game this season. But unfortunately for Tigers fans, it may reopen the door to a deal we desperately don't want to see happen.

The Mets are better equipped than most other teams in baseball to pull off a Skubal trade, and they might be the most desperate. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Phillies also have the prospect capital, but the Mets are probably the most willing to pay big for just one year of his services.

Trading for Semien means that the Mets have now blocked almost the entire top-third of their pipeline through 2028, and all of them are players they could offer the Tigers.

Mets-Rangers' Marcus Semien-Brandon Nimmo trade could reopen the door to Tigers dealing Tarik Skubal

No. 3 prospect Jett Williams, No. 6 Jacob Reimer, No. 7 AJ Ewing, No. 8 Ryan Clifford, No. 9 Mitch Voit, and No. 10 Elian Peña all just became more expendable. Williams, Reimer, Ewing, and Clifford are all utility players, so the Mets could potentially make room if they're dead-set on keeping them, but they certainly don't need all of them.

Although the Tigers' infield is crowded as it is, they could certainly be interested in any of the Mets' utility prospects, as AJ Hinch loves to mix and match.

The Mets would still probably have to throw in a starting pitcher (Jonah Tong seems the most likely to be moved in this case), but Williams, Tong, and maybe Clifford, who is expected to debut next year, could be a starting point. Not to mention, if the Tigers strengthen their farm system further, it gives them the ability to be flexible in future trades. We aren't advising such a scenario, we're just stating the obvious if they improve their top-rated group.

The Tigers have made their stance clear — "Tarik is a Tiger" — but there's always the looming threat of a team offering a package too good for the front office to pass up, and the Mets just made it that much easier on themselves.