The Mets made a serious push for Kyle Tucker-and they weren’t messing around with the numbers. According to multiple reports, New York put a four-year, $220 million offer on the table, complete with a hefty $75 million signing bonus, no deferred money, and a frontloaded structure that would’ve paid Tucker $120 million over the first two seasons. On top of that, they gave him opt-outs after both the second and third years, giving him flexibility if the market shifted or if things didn’t go as planned in Queens.
It was a strong offer by any measure. But in the end, Tucker chose the Dodgers and a nearly identical four-year, $240 million deal.
The opt-outs were the same, but L.A. tacked on an extra $20 million in total value. Even with $30 million of that deferred, the net present value still gives Tucker a slightly higher annual payout-just north of $57 million per year compared to the Mets’ $55 million AAV.
So why L.A.? Beyond the dollars and cents, the Dodgers offer a compelling situation.
Back-to-back championships, a loaded roster, and a clear path to contention in 2026 made them an easy sell for a player in his prime looking to win now. The Mets, meanwhile, are still trying to steady the ship after a second-half collapse and an offseason that’s seen more subtraction than addition.
New York has made some bold moves, no doubt. They swapped out Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien, brought in Jorge Polanco to fill the void left by Pete Alonso, and moved on from Jeff McNeil via trade.
In the bullpen, they added Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, but lost some serious firepower in Edwin Díaz, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Helsley. On paper, it feels like a step sideways at best-and maybe a step back, depending on how the new pieces fit.
Now, with Tucker off the board, the Mets are back in the market for a left fielder. Cody Bellinger is the name that keeps surfacing.
Bob Nightengale reports that the Mets could ramp up their pursuit, but landing Bellinger would mean reversing course on their apparent reluctance to hand out long-term deals this winter. The Yankees have reportedly offered Bellinger five years in the $155-160 million range, and with Scott Boras steering the ship, it’s no surprise that Bellinger’s camp is aiming for a seven-year commitment.
If Bellinger proves too pricey or too long-term for New York’s liking, the options narrow quickly. Harrison Bader is still out there, but he’s more glove than bat, and the Mets already saw what he brings during a previous stint. He’s not the middle-of-the-order presence they were hoping to get in Tucker, and he may not be a significant upgrade over someone like Tyrone Taylor.
That could push the Mets toward the trade market. Two names that make sense: Jarren Duran and Lars Nootbaar.
Duran, in particular, would bring speed and energy to the outfield, but prying him away from the Red Sox won’t be cheap. It would likely take one of the Mets’ young starting pitchers plus an MLB-ready infielder-think Brett Baty or Mark Vientos-to get Boston to even pick up the phone.
Bottom line: the Mets swung big for Kyle Tucker and came up just short. Now, with the outfield still needing a major piece, they’re at a crossroads.
Do they pivot to another splashy move like Bellinger, or get creative on the trade front? Either way, if they want to keep pace in a loaded National League, they can’t afford to stand still.