The Detroit Tigers might be playing a dangerous game with their ace, Tarik Skubal. Reports surfaced Friday that contract talks between the two sides have hit a wall, with a staggering $250 million gap separating the Tigers’ offer and what Skubal’s camp believes he’s worth. For a pitcher who just posted a 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts, it’s not hard to understand why the market sees him as a premium arm.

That sort of tension never goes unnoticed around the league, and the New York Mets are already circling. After watching their rotation collapse late last season when Kodai Senga went down, the Mets know exactly what life without a true No. 1 looks like. It’s like trying to steer a ship through a storm without a captain — directionless and doomed to drift.

Why the Mets are ready to pounce

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