Kyle Tucker is still unsigned, and with spring training just around the corner, the biggest name on the free agent board remains in play. The 28-year-old outfielder is commanding a massive payday - reportedly seeking a $400 million deal - and while that number has made some teams pause, it hasn’t stopped the offers from rolling in.
According to multiple reports, the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays are all in the mix, each taking a different approach to land Tucker. The Mets have reportedly put a bold offer on the table: a three- or four-year deal worth $50 million per season.
That would make Tucker the third-highest-paid player in MLB history by average annual value (AAV), trailing only Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million AAV and Juan Soto’s $51 million. That’s elite company, and it shows just how much New York values Tucker’s potential impact.
The Dodgers, always lurking when a big name is available, are said to be eyeing a similar short-term, high-AAV deal. While exact numbers haven’t been confirmed, the offer is reportedly substantial - big enough to keep them in serious contention.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are taking a different route, pitching a longer-term deal with a lower annual salary. It’s a classic contrast in team-building philosophies: go big and short, or lock in long-term value.
So why the hesitation on a mega-long-term deal? Tucker is an excellent all-around player - the kind of guy who can hit for power, get on base, and play solid defense in the outfield.
But he doesn’t necessarily dominate in any one category. What he brings is consistency, and in baseball, that’s gold.
Still, teams may be weighing that against his recent injury history. Over the past two seasons, Tucker has missed time, and that could be giving front offices reason to pause before committing to a decade-long deal.
That said, the market is clearly heating up. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns didn’t confirm specifics, but during a media luncheon at Citi Field, he didn’t deny the club’s involvement either.
“I wouldn’t take anything off the table,” Stearns said. “I think we are, and will continue to be, involved in talks at all ranges of free agency and the trade market.”
Translation: yes, the Mets are in on Tucker - and they’re serious.
New York fans are hungry for a splash after seeing several familiar faces leave this offseason. Trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers left a hole in the outfield and in the lineup, and Tucker could be the answer. A four-time All-Star with a lefty bat and postseason experience, he fits the bill of what the Mets need right now: a cornerstone player who can steady the ship and ignite the fanbase.
With offers on the table and teams circling, Tucker’s decision could come any day now. The question isn’t whether he’ll get paid - it’s how, and by whom. Whether it’s the Mets’ aggressive short-term bid, the Dodgers’ stealthy pursuit, or the Jays’ long-view pitch, Kyle Tucker’s free agency saga is shaping up to be one of the defining stories of the offseason.