The Mets' offseason plans took a hit when they missed out on Kyle Tucker, who landed with the Dodgers after a $20 million gap in offers. That swing and miss has left New York scrambling to patch a glaring hole in the outfield-and the clock is ticking.
Cody Bellinger might seem like a logical target, especially with his left-handed bat and defensive versatility. But with the Yankees reportedly making a strong push for him, the Mets aren’t expected to outbid their crosstown rivals. That puts them in a tough spot: they need outfield help, but the options are quickly drying up.
One potential path could’ve involved the Boston Red Sox, who have a surplus of outfielders and are open to dealing from that depth. On paper, it makes sense-Boston has young, controllable outfielders like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela, and the Mets have a need. But in reality, the two teams just don’t line up well for a deal.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox are looking for infield help, specifically at second or third base. That’s where things get complicated.
The Mets could dangle prospects like Mark Vientos or Luisangel Acuña, but neither is likely to move the needle for Boston. Brett Baty might draw some interest, but trading him would leave the Mets with their own infield hole-essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Could the Mets try to use one of their young starting pitchers to sweeten the pot? In theory, sure.
But Boston isn’t hurting for arms. They’ve got 10 Major League-ready starters already in the mix, so pitching isn’t exactly a need they’re looking to fill.
That makes a trade between these two clubs unlikely unless the Mets can somehow produce a high-caliber infielder to satisfy Boston’s ask. And right now, that piece just isn’t on the board.
The Mets’ pursuit of outfield help is far from over, but the Red Sox route appears to be a dead end. Missing out on Tucker didn’t just cost them a star-it’s exposed a roster gap that’s proving tough to fill. With spring training creeping closer, the front office will need to pivot quickly to find a solution, because the options-and leverage-are slipping away.