Heading into the 2025-26 offseason we were all under the impression that the New York Mets, while not necessarily “out” on superstar free agent Kyle Tucker due to owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, would not pursue the former Cub. The sticking point, however, has always been about the contract length of a potential deal.
Though, as time passed by, with Tucker’s market falling, the Mets have emerged as a serious contender. They have now offered Tucker a deal worth $50 million AAV per year. The Mets have consistently displayed discipline all offseason. They let franchise stalwarts Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz depart in free agency. They also traded away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.
Tucker, since winning a Gold Glove in 2022 with the Astros, has taken some steps back defensively. For a Mets team that has operated under the term “run-prevention,” which is just a fancy way of saying pitching and defense, it’s fair to raise the question, why the team would be comfortable paying $100 million a year to two corner outfielders (Juan Soto and his $51 million AAV) who aren’t particularly known for their defense? Tucker would be the exception of course, but it isn’t as if outfield is their only need. The Mets still need to add to the rotation that doomed them in 2025.
“We need to get more from that (rotation),” president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday at Citi Field. “We have confidence in the group that’s here and are looking to add to it.”
Why the Mets Hold an Edge on Tucker
The Mets have a huge advantage over the other two teams that seem to be the finalists for Tucker’s services (Blue Jays and Dodgers), and hear’s why: No, it’s not only because New York has the richest owner in baseball who can dish out more money than anyone else at any given time if he deems it right.
Rather, it’s because earlier this offseason the Cubs gave Tucker the $22 million qualifying offer and both the Jays and Dodgers have already signed free agents who had a qualifying offer attached to them, with the Jays inking Dylan Cease to a mega seven-year, $210 million deal and of course the Dodgers stealing elite closer Edwin Diaz from the Mets for a three-year, $69 million pact.
As a result, the Jays and Dodgers have lost their 2nd and 5th round picks of the 2026 First-Year Player Draft and have each lost $1 million in international free agency pool money. So signing another player with a qualifying offer attached to them would seriously impact their 2026 draft. Both team would have to forfeit their top four picks, their 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th highest in the upcoming draft, something no team has never done before.
More on Tucker
The Blue Jays have offered Tucker a long-term contract, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and the Dodgers seem to be “lurking,” with the preference to deal a short-term contract. The Mets’ initial offer to the superstar is believed to be for three years, but have reportedly upped their offer to four on Wednesday, with opt-outs built in, most likely after year one.
Tucker is expected to make a decision sometime next week as he is currently sifting through his options, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Wednesday. The Mets had multiple meetings with Tucker last week, with one being on Thursday, according to a source. The meetings were said to have gone well and all were conducted over Zoom, not in person.
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The Mets are clearly interested, this is their guy. The question remains, does Tucker want them?
The four-time All-Star is said to be a low-key guy. It raises uncertainty whether Tucker is willing to play in perhaps the largest market. While Chicago is considered a large market, it doesn’t come close to the pressure-cooker that is New York. Tucker could want job security and take a long-term offer. He could also take the short-term, high AAV deal. It’s unknown if he wants to be locked up long term with the looming lockout coming.
Pure speculation here: If Tucker has been offered a long-term deal, which he has, I sense job security is more valuable to him than more money. The Jays seem to be a good fit, they are coming off a World Series appearance and are flying high. Landing Tucker would only further separate themselves from their AL East division rivals on top of an already successful offseason. Another question: is he willing to accept Canada as his home country for, say, seven years? Many players in the past have disliked the idea of moving country’s and Tucker might be one of them.
We may not know the answers to all these questions right now. Once Tucker makes a decision, at the least, most will be revealed.
Top Image Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images