The New York Mets’ offseason took another hit Thursday night, and this one stings. After watching prized reliever Edwin Díaz head west to Los Angeles, the Mets also lost out on their top free-agent target, outfielder Kyle Tucker, who agreed to a four-year, $240 million megadeal with the Dodgers.
That’s not just a swing and a miss - that’s two big whiffs in the same inning. Tucker was more than just a name on the Mets' wish list; he was the kind of player who could’ve reshaped the outfield and given the lineup a serious jolt. But the Dodgers, flexing their financial muscle yet again, outbid the Mets by about $20 million, sealing the deal and leaving New York scrambling for a Plan B.
Enter Cody Bellinger - at least, in theory.
Bellinger is widely considered the next-best outfield option on the market. He brings power, Gold Glove-caliber defense, and a bounce-back campaign last season that reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be when healthy and locked in.
On paper, he fits the Mets' needs almost perfectly. But according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Mets aren’t expected to land him either.
Here’s the situation: the Yankees have already made a competitive five-year offer in the range of $155-160 million, with no deferrals. For the Mets to bring Bellinger to Queens, they’d have to top that - and not just by a little. Bellinger is reportedly seeking a seven-year deal, and the Mets, who’ve been consistent in their preference for shorter-term contracts, aren’t showing much willingness to stretch the years.
That puts them in a tough spot. They already passed on meeting the Dodgers’ offer for Tucker, who, as Rosenthal put it, was “practically a must-have” for the Mets. Now, with Bellinger likely heading elsewhere unless the Mets reverse course, the options are thinning out fast.
And let’s be clear - this isn’t just about missing out on big names for the sake of headlines. The Mets have real needs in the outfield, and the top-tier talent is drying up. If they don’t pivot aggressively - either by shifting their stance on contract length or exploring the trade market - they’ll be left with veteran stopgaps who don’t move the needle the way Tucker or Bellinger would’ve.
The door on Bellinger isn’t completely shut, but it’s creaking. Without a shift in strategy, the Mets are poised to watch another top free agent walk - this time, maybe just across town.