Fans of the New York Mets have not had much positive news so far this offseason. After all, the club lost Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz to free agency, and has traded away fan-favorites Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. New York has also failed to grab any true high-profile stars in free agency as of yet. Nevertheless, this could soon change in the coming days.
It was recently revealed that the Mets were one of the three teams to meet with top free agent target Kyle Tucker. The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers also talked with the former Cub. While any of the trio could soon land the outfielder, SNY’s Jim Duquette is now claiming that New York’s ownership, led by Steve Cohen, could prove to be a massive asset in the negotiations with the star.
“You have ownership, which is a huge asset,” Duquette claimed on SNY. “I know in Toronto, their owner isn’t really a part of these types of meetings. It’s a huge positive from the Mets side of things that the ownership can sit there and back up what the front office is saying.”
“In terms of intent, it shows your intent. Obviously, it creates the expectation level even within your fan base. So, there are so many good and positive things [regarding the pursuit of Tucker], especially in a winter that hasn’t been positive so far. I think from a Mets side of things, this is a real good step in the right direction. Now they have to close the deal.”
New York Mets Likely Have to Increase Offer to Kyle Tucker
GettyKyle Tucker would give the Mets exactly what they need in their lineup.
While Duquette believes Cohen could help the Mets land Tucker, New York may have to up their ante. It is believed that the Blue Jays are currently offering the star the longest contract of the three aforementioned clubs. The Dodgers and Mets, on the other hand, favor a shorter deal with a higher average annual salary. The latter duo appears willing to offer Tucker just a three-year contract.
As Duquette pointed out, Tucker is only just turning 29 soon and is coming off a successful 2025 despite enduring a significant hand injury. Assuming he remains mostly healthy going forward, Tucker is likely to produce at a high level into his mid-30s. Because of this, the Mets could increase their offer to four or five years to help bring the star to the Big Apple.
Tucker, an All-Star in each of the last four seasons, has become a perennial MVP candidate since earning a regular starting spot with the Houston Astros. In fact, he finished inside the top 20 for the award three consecutive seasons before moving on to Chicago. Although he did not receive a single vote in 2025, he did earn his second Silver Slugger award on the campaign.
Mets Currently Have a Massive Hole in Their Outfield
Duquette is correct in saying that the Mets have to close the deal for Tucker. With Nimmo now gone, New York has a massive hole in their outfield. Superstar Juan Soto is the team’s only current outfielder guaranteed to start on opening day.
Potentially landing Tucker would clearly be a massive move by the Mets. New York’s overall lineup is currently lackluster at the moment and in desperate need of some talent. Along with Soto, Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty need some help around them if the club expects to make the playoffs in 2026.
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