As the New York Mets prepare for a pivotal offseason, a main area of need that the team will look to address is starting pitching, as the big whale in the market is no doubt star Tarik Skubal. While rumors surround the Mets and Skubal, this insider speaks on why getting the star wouldn't solve all of the team's problems.

SNY Mets insider Chelsea Janes would speak on “Foul Territory” about New York, and while getting the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner would be helpful, president of baseball operations David Stearns is also looking to fill out depth in the rotation.

“And we heard David Stearns say at the end of the year that they'll look at the top of the market, and I think they'll be very active there. But he also wants to fill out the back of the rotation. He wants to make sure he has depth, and he wants to make sure he has depth that if it's not performing, he can shuffle out of the rotation,” Janes said.

“I think he's gonna be super active on all ends of the rotation,” Janes continued. “You know, maybe some smaller names, some smaller deals that bring in guys with options. But yeah, they absolutely need more than one. And to me, even if you get Skubal, like that's great, but you need more from there, and if you don't get Skubal, you got to really do some work.”

Even if the Mets land Tarik Skubal, there's still work to be done.@Chelsea_Janes believes David Stearns will be "super active" on all ends of the starting rotation. pic.twitter.com/0zbPgCSzzU

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 10, 2026

More on where the Mets should look to in the offseason

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Janes would continue talking about the Mets and say that she believes that the team needs two or three full-time starters. Also, while New York loves their up-and-coming pitchers like Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zach Thornton, the team shouldn't bank on a straight path to stardom.

“Just throw money at the problem,” Janes continued. “Starting pitching is the prerequisite to playing deep into October…They've got to get themselves there. Starting pitching is the way to do it.

The Mets look to vastly improve after finishing with a 74-88 record, putting them last in the NL East.