The San Diego Padres are emerging as a strong contender to sign free-agent left-hander Tarik Skubal, posing a significant challenge to the New York Mets in their pursuit of the star pitcher. Both clubs are planning to meet with Skubal in the near future.
While the Mets, bolstered by owner Steve Cohen's financial resources, were initially considered front-runners, the Padres' new ownership group, led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, has signaled a strong commitment to building a winning team. Padres General Manager A.J. Preller stated that the new owners are "very committed" to success.
Preller has a history of securing major contracts, having previously facilitated deals for Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, and Manny Machado, including two contracts worth $300 million each, under the previous ownership. The Padres' aggressive approach suggests they are prepared to make a substantial investment to acquire Skubal.