The New York Mets have yet to make a big splash in free agency while losing names like Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo. New York have added some names to the squad for the 2026 MLB season, but have yet to land a big-name.
With players like Kyle Tucker still available via free agency and the Mets having the funds to pursue them, the question is: After a couple of months pass in free agency, do they want to make a U-turn?
On Jan. 5, The Athletic’s Will Sammon appeared on SNY’s “Baseball Night in New York“ to share whether the Mets are a serious suitor for Tucker.
“I would suspect that [Tucker is] the crown jewel of this free agent class, and he probably has other options that may be better,“ Sammon said. “We’ll see, because [the Mets are] always going to lurk, they’re always going to linger, they’re going to check in on guys, and they have the resources to make things very interesting.”
Moreover, Sammon gave an update on the Mets’ interest in Cody Bellinger.
“They’ll check in on it, and if this market is not what he wants it to be, they could swoop in,” Sammon added. “To your point, Sal, they could be that team that uses those resources of Steve Cohen to their advantage and say, ‘Hey, here’s a shorter offer, but the AAV, the annual average value, the dollars, it’s going to be pretty high.’ That does entice guys sometimes.”
Mets Seen as the Favorite for Kyle Tucker
Meanwhile, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith shared what he knows regarding Tucker and the Toronto Blue Jays . Moreover, he doesn’t see the reigning American League champions as the front-runner for the free agent.
“At one point, the Blue Jays looked like the best candidate to give Kyle Tucker a long-term deal,“ Ben Nicholson-Smith said on Jan. 5 during an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The Fan . “Now, I would say that’s the Mets because, you look at the Mets roster, they have Tyrone Taylor starting in one outfield spot on their projection.
“They have Carson Benge, I had to check that name, starting in one of their other outfield spots. So, clearly, the Mets need to add an outfielder. Kyle Tucker’s out there; the Mets spend like nobody else.”
Blue Jays Seen as the Right Fit for Kyle Tucker
Recently, Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz believes that, among the teams linked to Tucker, the Blue Jays make the most sense for him.
“I think the value of Kyle Tucker added to this lineup outweighs the value of Bo Bichette because once the money’s paid, once we’re over the luxury tax, under the luxury tax, all you have is the product out on the field,“ Kratz said on the Jan. 2 edition of “Foul Territory.” “Kyle Tucker will be a better offensive player if both players stay healthy. It’s apples to apples. He’ll be a better offensive contributor to this lineup.”
It will be interesting to see if the situation with Tucker drags out and whether he might have to lower any demands as teams play a game of chicken with his camp. The Mets have a team that needs to contend now, so if Tucker remains out on the market as spring training nears, perhaps New York could pounce.
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