Mets recently met with Kyle Tucker

Plus, the Mets could be looking to upgrade their rotation via the trade market, and more speculation on Cody Bellinger

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• All of the Mets, Dodgers and Blue Jays have held a very good meeting with OF Kyle Tucker (MLB Network Radio | SI)

• The Mets are well positioned to trade the big league ready arms the Brewers could want in a deal for RHP Freddy Peralta, and keep RHP Nolan McLean as well (Athletic)

• The Mets recently held trade conversations with the Nationals on LHP MacKenzie Gore, but the asking price is very high (SI)

• The Marlins asking price from the Mets for RHP Edward Cabrera was 3B Brett Baty and top prospect AJ Ewing (SI)

• INF Luisangel Acuña had a four-homer night in the Venezuelan Winter League on Saturday (Watch)

• MLB and NBC moved the Mets’ Opening Day game on March 26 against the Pirates to a 1 PM start time. Their game against the Phillies on June 21 as well as their game against the Astros on August 30 will also air on Peacock at 7 PM (MLB.com)

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Yankees and OF Cody Bellinger are at an impasse in their negotiations, and the Yankees are moving forward as if Bellinger will sign elsewhere (ESPN)

• The Pirates are interested in adding an infielder to the left side as well as starting pitching (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

• The Tigers are talking to RHPs Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt (Athletic)

• The Diamondbacks have decided they will not trade INF Ketel Marte (Athletic)

• Tarik Skubal is asking for $32 million in salary arbitration - the Tigers are at $19 million, a record gap in the salary exchange process (MLB.com)

• After trading Edward Cabrera away, its unlikely the Marlins will trade Sandy Alcantara this winter (Athletic)

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The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️

ICYMI: On the latest episode of the Just Mets Podcast, Rich & Andrew discussed whether or not the Mets missed out on the two stars from Japan.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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The definition of a short-term deal for Kyle Tucker, and a new path to Cody Bellinger ✍️

In recent days, the buzz has been getting louder and louder around the Mets and free agent OF Kyle Tucker. The New York Post recently reported that the Mets were very interested in Tucker and were among three teams leading the pack to sign the star outfielder, along with the Dodgers and the Blue Jays.

That the Mets are this deep into Tucker’s free agency is probably a good thing, and that they recently met with him is a good thing too. But having to contend with the allure of the Dodgers and the excitement around the Jays probably makes it more difficult for the Mets, who have far more holes to fill beyond Tucker.

Does this mean Tucker is in for a short-term deal? That isn’t clear. But, it could mean that his market is far from what he envisioned as his free agency gets into January with a month before he has to report somewhere for Spring Training.

Also, it’s worth mentioning a short-term deal for Tucker - who is 28 and is the best player available in free agency this winter - could look a lot different and mean something completely different than a short-term deal for Cody Bellinger, or Framber Valdez, or Ranger Suárez, or any second-generation free agent contract for the Mets. It’s something they have to consider and consider being flexible over if they want him, especially if Toronto is already willing to offer more years than the Mets are currently. That doesn’t mean the Mets can’t and won’t adjust their offer to make them competitive with Toronto. Again, they’re still here at this stage of Tucker’s free agency.

That tells me the Mets are indeed flexible, and the Mets have indicated to Tucker’s camp they’d be flexible as well. How flexible they might be is unknown, and that doesn’t mean they’ll get him, but I think they know the definition of a short-term deal for Tucker is different than that for any other free agent they might be interested in this winter. Is a short-term deal for Tucker four years, or five years or six years? Is a short-term deal longer on paper but with player-vesting opt-outs in between?

None of that is clear right now.

It also suggests that if it’s true and the Mets are not interested in Tucker on a mega deal, that Tucker is not necessarily in for a mega deal at this time. Once again, that we are at this point is indicative of Tucker’s market not developing in that manner.

Having said all of that, it’s still unclear what the Mets’ chances are they can and will sign Tucker, even if the terms have become more attractive for them.

That doesn’t diminish what can only be described as a serious, back-breaking need to add to their outfield after the trade that sent Brandon Nimmo to Texas for Marcus Semien. The Mets have the proven ability to outbid anyone for a free agent - they did it for Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and of course, Juan Soto last winter. And the need to augment the roster is arguably more serious today than it was a year ago when they signed Soto considering they don’t have a Major League option for left field and don’t have a complete solution for center field either.

Considering the owner and the amount invested in this roster, it would seem totally absurd for the Mets to go to camp without making at least one significant position player addition. It would also seem totally absurd if they went to camp with this projected lineup configuration and absolutely no protection whatsoever for Soto, who could conceivably draw 200 walks under the current configuration and take the bat out of his hands in almost every other at-bat. Not to mention the rotation, the area of the team that actually sunk the Mets in 2025 and has remained untouched to-date.

If this is a short-term scenario for Tucker, it could be a difficult sell against both the Dodgers and the Blue Jays, even if both of them are also in the same short-term vicinity as the Mets are. From the player’s perspective, it would only make sense for Tucker to join the Mets if their average annual value is above and beyond that of either the Dodgers or the Jays, since they are unquestionably more attractive destinations in a shorter-term scenario than the Mets.

However, I think the Mets know that. And I think Tucker knows the Mets have the ability to outbid anyone for the player they want. I also think Tucker knows he can use the Mets to help improve the bids from the other teams, which is just the nature of the business.

Remember, for any of these three teams that sign Tucker, they not only are subject to draft pick compensation, but also a significant penalty in pool allocation for international free agency. My guess is the Mets care more about the latter than they do the former right now, especially since they’re always so heavily invested in international free agency. But again, they’re here, so they’re clearly willing to accept that penalty, and/or possibly trade for more money in the coming days ahead of the start of the 2026 signing period.

And the playing field is level there for all three teams since they’re all projected to be past the top threshold for the luxury tax.

As for Bellinger…

AP Photo

Going all the way back to October, I said I’d believe Bellinger is leaving the Yankees when I see it. He’s a natural fit for that ballpark; his home/road splits starkly contrasted one another in 2025; he thrived as a Yankee; and he just seemed destined to return. But we are now deep into the winter, and while the Yankees have reportedly made a couple of offers, Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, have had an appetite for something different to date, and ESPN reported this weekend that the two sides have reached an impasse in their dragged-out negotiation process.

It can only be concluded that their impasse is primarily over the years in the Yankee offer, as they’re reportedly north of $30 million per year in whatever package they’ve sent them.

Meanwhile, the Mets have been long rumored to be waiting in the shadows for Bellinger’s market to fall into their lap, as have the Dodgers. There are parts of the Mets who really like Bellinger, and while he is the lesser player to Tucker, Bellinger fits the Mets’ needs better than Tucker does because he can play three positions the Mets badly need help at, whereas Tucker is a right fielder at the moment, and he would either need to shift to left field or the Mets would have to move Soto to left so Tucker can play right.

Its also worth mentioning Bellinger is not tied to draft pick compensation or a penalty in their international free agent pool allotment, as he was not eligible to receive a qualifying offer from the Yankees after receiving one from the Cubs two years ago (a player can only receive a QO once).

Also, Bellinger has thrived in New York already, and there have been whispers about Tucker’s personality and being able to fit in the New York spotlight.

The situation with the Yankees leaves the Mets and the Dodgers potentially dueling head-to-head for Bellinger, if Tucker were to sign in Toronto. If Tucker goes to the Dodgers, that could mean it could come down to either the Mets and Jays for Bellinger. And of course, if Tucker chooses the Mets, then it would probably be in the Mets’ best interest for Bellinger to go to Toronto. There’s also the chance that Boras is able to draw other clubs in on Bellinger and get the Yankees back into the fold if Bellinger’s demands drop.

But this is a very interesting development in Bellinger’s free agency and another piece to this high-stakes free agent puzzle between all four of these big-spending clubs.

Then of course there’s the five-year contract Alex Bregman just got from the Cubs. That can have an impact on the deals for both Tucker and Bellinger, and also opens the door for the Red Sox to enter the fray for both. That’s not to say either is a natural fit for Boston, and Bo Bichette is the logical next pivot for them, but they need a bat and losing out on Bregman can potentially change their calculus and what they’re now able to get.

And, Bregman is 31 - Bellinger (30) and Tucker (28) are both younger, so if they can’t get a contract of at least five years now, that would be pretty wacky.

If the Mets definitely have to go to at least five years for both now, is that something they’d consider? Again, a five-year deal or more for Tucker is different than that for Bellinger given the age differences, but there’s no indication right now that’s within the Mets’ comfort zone.

We shall see.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Cubs landed INF Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million deal (NY Post)

• The Cardinals and RHP Ryne Stanek are in agreement on a contract (FanSided)

• The Angels and INF Nick Madrigal are in agreement on a minor league contract (FanSided)

• Free agent INF Max Kepler received an 80-game suspension for a PED violation

• The Braves, Reds, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Brewers, Cardinals and Rays all terminated their broadcasting agreements with the parent company of Fanduel Network - its possible some or all return under new agreements (Athletic)

• The Rockies acquired OF Jake McCarthy from the Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Josh Grosz (Official)

• The Reds signed RHP Pierce Johnson - the terms of the deal aren’t yet known (NY Post)