1/5/26

After two months of the offseason, the Mets are still looking to spend, as they have checked in on former Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, per John Heyman of the NY Post. 

The four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger has been ranked as the top free agent from the start of the offseason and is expected to be paid like it. Tucker is seeking the last payday of his career and is projected to receive a contract worth over $400 million spanning 10 years. 

Last year, Tucker was one of the consistent hitters in the game. Across 136 games, the lefty batted .266, smacked 22 home runs, and 73 RBIs, with a .841 OPS, and a 4.6 WAR. In 2025, he earned himself an All-Star bid and a Silver Slugger.

For the Mets, he fits nicely in the lineup, slotting right into left field, where he played 9% of his career, while the other 81% was played in right field. In the lineup, Tucker could fit into the two or three hole with Lindor in front of him and Soto behind him, or both Lindor and Soto in front of him.

However, the signing of Tucker would not be perfect.

Entering the offseason, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns preached the need for run prevention, and so far, as the offseason is going, Stearns has been making moves of run prevention on the defensive side. The trade of Nimmo to Semien was to strengthen defense in the infield while allowing for an upgrade defensively in left field, and the option of going with Jorge Palanco over Pete Alonso was to improve the defense on the first base side.

The transition from Nimmo to Tucker would be a huge upgrade offensively, but defensively, it does not fit what the Mets have been trying for since the beginning of the offseason. In 2025, Brandon Nimmo put up a -1 OAA (outs above average), which is in the 42nd percentile of qualified players, while Kyle Tucker has posted a -2 OAA, which is in the 26th percentile. 

The 28-year-old has also been linked to the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Baltimore Orioles. Along with the Toronto Blue Jays, who are viewed as the frontrunners despite Toronto recently inking a deal with Kazuma Okamoto for $60 million across four years. 

Throughout the process, the Mets will remain interested in other outfielders such as Cody Bellinger and consider if 22-year-old Carson Benge is ready to make the jump to the major leagues.