Mets have a four-year offer out for Kyle Tucker, who could decide today
Also, would Kyle Tucker shift the offseason narrative for the Mets?
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
The Mets aren’t expecting a decision on free agent OF Kyle Tucker until at least Thursday. Team officials don’t have a feeling on what destination Tucker will eventually choose (NY Post)
The Mets have a four-year offer on the table for Tucker (NY Post)
The Blue Jays are the only team to have shown a willingness to “potentially” offer a deal as long as 10 years to Tucker (Sportsnet)
International Signing Period Begins Today ⚾️
The Mets reportedly increased SS Wandy Asigen’s bonus hours before the opening of the International Signing Period, bringing the total deal amount to $3.9 million (de los deportes)
Asigen is considered the No. 2 ranked international free agent (MLB.com)
The Mets have $5.4 million to spend in international free agency, per Baseball America, although that could drop by $1 million if they sign OF Kyle Tucker
Rumor Mill 💨
The Mariners have had ongoing discussions with the Cardinals over LHP JoJo Romero (Belleville News-Democrat)
Seattle is also showing continuing interest in Cardianals 2B Brendan Donovan, as well as Cubs 2B Nico Hoerner (Seattle Times)
The Padres were also heavily in on 3B Nolan Arenado before he was eventually dealt to the Diamondbacks (The Athletic)
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
Join Andrew Claudio for a new Just Mets Therapy Session, as he explores the Mets’ reported offer for Kyle Tucker and unpacks David Stearns’s comments from Tuesday.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Would Kyle Tucker change the entire offseason perception for the Mets? ✍️
What’s it going to be, Kyle Tucker?
It seems his free agency will come down to whether Tucker prefers the security of a longer-term deal, or a boatload of cash now and a chance to go test the market again in a couple of years and parlay the short-term deal from the Mets into a long-term deal for way more money, if he stays healthy. He’s turning 29 this weekend, so the potential of earning another big payday in a year or two could be alluring to Tucker.
We will see how all of this shakes out over the next day or so, but it is a good sign that the Mets are here at the end even with a short-term offer on the table for the winter’s best free agent.
Now, I’m going to get a little ahead of myself and, without wanting to reverse-jinx this whole pursuit, I’ve been intrigued by the following question…
Would landing Tucker change the entire complexion and perception of the offseason for the Mets?
It isn’t a straightforward answer.
Of course, if the reports prove to be true and the Mets sign the four-time All-Star to a short-term deal that could carry an average annual value of $50 million, then that would be quite the statement of intent by owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns.
In fact, that kind of deal would transform the Mets’ entire offseason overnight. From the disappointment of losing Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Díaz, fans would get to celebrate the arrival of another true star and offer hope for the coming season, that which many folks currently do not have (and, perhaps for good reason despite the Mets thinking otherwise).
Forget his down year with the Cubs last year, Tucker still posted a 143 OPS+, while he’s just one of only five players in the majors to post a 4.0 WAR or better in each of the past five seasons. Juan Soto is on that list, and Shohei Ohtani isn’t. That should tell you just how elite Tucker is despite his recent injury history.
Furthermore, Tucker would automatically improve the middle of the Mets lineup, and significantly too. Soto would have some much-needed lineup protection again, and Tucker’s ability to put the ball in play, get on base, and steal bases would help to address some major flaws. He can hit left-handed pitching too, something the Mets did not do a good job of as a team in 2025.
Tucker’s potential arrival would help to ease the pain of losing a slew of fan favorites, and would maybe restore some faith that Stearns was working to a short and medium-term plan after all. Having undergone so many seismic roster changes, and in the wake of last year’s still-bitter disappointment, Tucker would instantly breathe some life back into the building.
The Mets would then end up with a dangerous three-headed monster in Soto, Tucker, and Francisco Lindor, a legit star in his prime, and a timely reminder that the Mets can outbid anyone with Cohen’s money and that anything is possible.
All of that is nice, of course, but there’s another side to all of this that needs exploring.
While there are some fans who believe Stearns always had a plan, and didn’t need to rush given the slow offseason, it does seem somewhat strange that the Mets weren’t willing, able, or both to give a few extra million dollars to persuade Díaz to stay, but are now willing to throw endless amounts of cash at Tucker. One could argue that the pursuit of Tucker maybe has a hint of trying to appease an angry fanbase, especially given the latest reports suggesting that Cohen is actively involved in talks for the outfielder.
Not only that, but Stearns once again echoed the sentiment on Tuesday to reporters at Citi Field that improving the defense was a major priority this offseason. And, while Tucker won a Gold Glove in 2022, and was a finalist in ‘20 and ‘21, he has since shown signs of regression in right field and was a worse defender than Nimmo last year, according to Outs Above Average.
When you throw in that one of Tucker or Soto will have to play left field for the Mets, coupled with the fact that Soto was the worst defensive right fielder in the game, it does appear as though Stearns is talking out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to upgrading the defense. Tucker will no doubt make the lineup a better one by some distance, but I’m not sure how much better defensively this team will be in the outfield with Tucker in left and Soto in right, plus a rookie sharing reps in center with Tyrone Taylor.
More importantly, though, adding Tucker would only solve one problem for this team.
We’ve talked ad nauseam about how pitching sunk this team in 2025, and anyone with a pair of eyeballs could work that out anyway. At the time of writing this, the Mets haven’t done a single thing to upgrade or improve the starting pitching. Signing Tucker to a high AAV would potentially reduce the chances of the Mets signing a free agent pitcher, even with Cohen’s limitless resources.
Why?
Because, signing Tucker and someone like Valdez, two players who are tied to draft pick compensation, would cost the Mets a total of four draft picks in 2026, not to mention the $1 million penalty in their international free agency pool.
Cohen’s wallet can’t change the rules.
So, in that case, Stearns would still need to go out and spend significant prospect capital in acquiring a frontline starter. If he’s able to sign Tucker and acquire a Freddy Peralta or a MacKenzie Gore, then the offseason would be looked upon as a major success.
However, if the Mets are successful in their pursuit of Tucker but fail to add the ace they so badly need, then that’s an entirely different story, and Stearns’ plan would come into question again. After all, you can have four Tucker’s and four Soto’s in the lineup; it would still not be enough without decent starting pitching.
And I’d still argue that this team needs another slugger in the lineup to help replace some of Alonso’s production.
With all that said, Tucker would be one hell of an addition and would help to placate at least a large majority of the fanbase.
We’ll see how this all shakes out, and this entire conversation may prove to be null and void if either the Blue Jays or the Dodgers win the Tucker sweepstakes.
Only time will tell. And we will know shortly, it would seem.
Around the League 🚩
The Red Sox reportedly signed free agent LHP Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million deal (NY Post)
The A’s hired former Rockies GM Bill Schmidt as a special assistant in their scouting department (NY Post)
Veteran RHP José Ureña signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan (NY Post)
The Cubs officially announced the free agent signing of 3B Alex Bregman (MLB.com)
IF….IF the Mets sign Tucker I think the pitching staff gets handled next. You gotta believe Stearns is wary of losing draft picks and international pool money. I think Peralta is the pivot here. Gore I hear the Nats want a kings ransom and I feel Stearns wants to keep Tong if at all possible and is shopping Sproat and Scott plus lower rated arms that have serious upside but maybe are a year or two away. If this pitching lab is now able to churn these pitchers out he has to start dealing as we all know they all can’t play at once and through history prospects get dealt. When the ink is dry I’ll celebrate but you said it. More still needs to be done and mebbe this is the deal that breaks the dam.
The Athletic:
If the Mets don’t land Tucker, they’re much more likely to explore the trade market for outfield help.
And when you take a step back and look at the free-agency landscape over the next few seasons, nobody in line to hit the open market carries close to the same offensive pedigree as Tucker.