With the news of top free agent hitter, outfielder Kyle Tucker, agreeing to a four-year, 240 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers late Thursday night, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, it’s being reported that the “New York Yankees and New York Mets will now be in a bidding war for outfielder Cody Bellinger”, states MLB reporter/columnist Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The Mets were one of three remaining front-runners in the Tucker sweepstakes, along with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mets reportedly even offered Tucker an “over 4-year contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $50 million per season”, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Tucker, however, ultimately chose the Dodgers, who also gave him a $64 million signing bonus and opt-outs in the second and third years of the contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Yankees Checked In On Tucker But Never Pursued Him
The New York Yankees were not in on Kyle Tucker. Instead it was reportedly they were “on the peripheary”, and it was confirmed the Yankees did not in fact make an offer to the right fielder, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. It was reported the Yankees did check in on Tucker’s free agency, according to Jack Curry of the Yes Network, but was noted by Curry as simply a due of diligence as Cashman has done before with high caliber free agents in previous years and this offseason.
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Now the Mets will shift their focus to the next best outfielder available on the free agent market in left fielder Cody Bellinger, who the Yankees have been having “constant” dialogue with over the last several weeks but remain “divided” on an agreement, in which Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras are reportedly seeking a seven year contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Yankees Somewhat Flexible In Bellinger Negotiations
Heyman adds that the Yankees are “open” to including opt-outs in their Bellinger contract proposal, in which the Yankees are reported to have offered Bellinger a five-year contract worth 155-160 million dollars, over 30 million dollars per season, also known as the average annual value (AAV), according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Bellinger and Boras, on the other hand, are not only looking for length in a seven-year deal but also with an AAV of 36-37 million dollars per season, according to Bob Klapsich of NJ.com. This would be equivalent to 252-259 million dollars over seven years. Still, the Yankees, up to this point, have refused to meet those demands from Bellinger’s side, but are still in discussions with them and trying to work out a potential contract, according to Klapisch.
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Mets Facing Their Own Pressure From The Fanbase
With the Mets now more seriously in play after missing out on Tucker, as well as pressure from the boiling frustration of the fanbase after not only missing out on Tucker but trading outfielder Brandon Nimmo and letting fan favorite first baseman slugger Pete Alonso walk in free agency to the Baltimore Orioles, along with all star closer Edwin Diaz going to the Dodgers, Steve Cohen and co, along with David Stearns, are likely facing the pressure now more than ever to make a big splash this winter.
As to whether the Mets will meet Boras and Bellinger’s demands and outbid the Yankees for a second offseason in a row remains to be seen. Mets owner Steve Cohen has a net worth of $23 billion, according to Forbes, so the question is not whether he can outbid the Yankees for Cody Bellinger; rather, the question is: Does he want to, and does he think Cody Bellinger is worth it?
The Yankees are also facing immense pressure from their own fanbase, as the offseason has been rather disappointing thus far, with the only major league-caliber player acquired from outside the organization being left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers, whom they traded for this past week from the Miami Marlins.
Also looking at Bellinger’s skillset in terms of offensive and defensive versatility, the fact that he had a strong season in his welcoming to New York, hitting 29 home runs and posting a .814 OPS while playing excellent defense in left field, and being able to cover all three outfield positions and fill in on rare occasions at first base when needed.
Bellinger brought a winning player’s attitude to the New York Yankees in 2025, who were trying to pivot after losing superstar right fielder Juan Soto in free agency the prior offseason to, you guessed it, the New York Mets. Bellinger will also likely have other suitors besides these two New York teams, but it will be interesting to see which of these organizations has the greater desire to sign him.
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