No one is talking about Kyle Tucker

[Centerfield]

I mean, I'm sure some people are talking about Kyle Tucker. But I feel like this year's top free agent isn't getting nearly as much buzz as years past. No owners meeting with his agent. No flight trackers. No contract demands.

I haven't even heard him seriously linked to a team yet. With the Winter Meetings around the corner, I feel like we should be hearing more by now.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mets Hot Stove last week had the panel discussing Bellinger and Tucker. It sounds like the Mets will be talking to both of them.

[MFS62]

I'd be a happy camper with either one of them (ecstatic with both of them) , but Bellinger provides more defensive flexibility.

Later

[Centerfield]

On cue, today Heyman tweeted that Tucker met with the Blue Jays.

[smg58]

The Jays seemed to have the second highest bid on literally everybody last offseason, wound up not doing a whole lot beyond extending Vlad, and would have won the World Series if any one of a number a different things in game 7 that could have easily gone the other way actually did. Now they're clearly being very proactive. We'll see how much it helps.

As for Tucker, he's not Soto or Ohtani. But he is the best free agent this year and the Mets now have an opening in the outfield corners. I'd have to assume we're in on him. He's young enough that 10 years isn't off the table, but his salary should be closer to $30M than $40M.

[Edgy MD]

The fun part about the winter meetings is that every three hours or so, there is new information about your team pursuing a transaction that would represent a fundamental new direction for the franchise.

Usually, nothing comes of it, but twice a day, a new story is being contemplated.

From a baseball perspective, I hate it. I will take the team and the organization that you have been mindfully curating with an evolving but foundationally consistent philosophy for years over the one you pivoted to on a whim.

But from a storytelling perspective, it's fertile ground.

[Centerfield]

Bob Nightengale and Mark Feinsand have both recently suggested that the Kyle Tucker market isn't as strong as once hoped, and that he might need to take a short term-high AAV deal and test the market again. That could be what we need for Stearns to take interest.

Of all the options available, or speculated to be available, only Tucker stands a chance to make up for Alonso's production.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Am I wrong for getting Bobby Bonilla vibes? Tucker is the best player in this free agent market, and Met fans are demanding a star player. But he might be the best fit for what we actually need. On the bright side, Bonilla was hired to be the centerpiece, rather than a complement to Barry Bonds like he was in Pittsburgh, and didn't do well with those expectations. Tucker would have Soto and Lindor to share the bright lights.

What do you think?

[Edgy MD]

Bobby Bonilla was the class of his free-agent market in the 1991-1992 offseason. He signed with the Mets for five years to what was, at the time, the most lucrative deal in the game.

If Tucker joins, he will not be that. If he is the number one guy on the market, it as perhaps the first among several equals (Bregman, Schwarber, Bichette), coming off a hand injury last season. Bonilla was coming off two top-three MVP finishes.

[Lefty Specialist]

Just don't see Stearns going for Tucker as he'll want at least a 5-year deal. That being said, they've got two-thirds of an outfield to fill right now.

[ashie62]

What I read today

Dan Duquette says the Mets are in on Tucker

The Athletic says Stearns is more likely to improve the pitching through trades rather than signings

Sooo, they could end up with Kyle Tucker and Tarik Skubal. No Framber Valdez

[Benjamin Grimm]

I can imagine the Mets giving him a five-year deal with an opt out after two.

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield has Bob Nightengale and Mark Feinsand reporting that Tucker may be leaning toward a short-term deal, with the Mets in.

Lefty Specialist says Tucker still is shooting at least a 5-year deal, and suggests that the Mets are out.

SO MUCH TUCKING DRAMA!!

[The Hot Corner]

I would be quite happy if the Mets landed Kyle Tucker. I'm currently of the "I'll believe it when I see it" frame of mind.

[Centerfield]

Bobby Bonilla was the class of his free-agent market in the 1991-1992 offseason. He signed with the Mets for five years to what was, at the time, the most lucrative deal in the game.

If Tucker joins, he will not be that. If he is the number one guy on the market, it as perhaps the first among several equals (Bregman, Schwarber, Bichette), coming off a hand injury last season. Bonilla was coming off two top-three MVP finishes.

 

Bonilla had a .779 OPS his first year. Solid, but didn’t live up to expectations. He took off from there. .874, then .878, then .984. With two months left in his contract he was traded for one of the best prospects in baseball.

[smg58]

Tucker is comparable (a year younger, but otherwise a left-handed corner outfielder worth above 4 WAR) to what Nimmo was when he got eight years and a full no-trade clause. So on one hand, he'd certainly be an upgrade over Nimmo now. On the other hand, "now" is only three years removed from Nimmo's extension, and the Mets have a lefty outfielder probably best suited for a corner who's nearly fully baked at AAA. I don't see them over-committing to Tucker, but I also get the sense that if Tucker has been offered what he was predicted to get, we wouldn't be talking about him in January. I'm curious to see how (and when) this plays out.

[Frayed Knot]

Will Salmon - The Athletic:

- Dodgers, Jays, Mets appear to be Tucker's strongest suitors

- Mets prefer to go shorter term [probably < 4 yrs], Jays more willing to go longer, LA might wait and 'swoop in' late

- some question whether Tucker would be a good fit for a large market ... but he would also be the 3rd star here so maybe not a problem

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6951582/2026/01/07/mets-kyle-tucker-mlb-free-agency/?source=dailyemail&campaign=13928155&userId=30063869&source=dailyemail

[The Hot Corner]

So is Chicago not considered a large market?

[Frayed Knot]

Yes, but he was traded there. Now he has some choice in the matter.

I also tend to dismiss most of that big market/small market stuff. Maybe it's a factor with some guys. Usually it's just speculation jabber..

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree. I don't think it's nothing, but it's probably not the big something that it's often made out to be.

[Fman99]

I agree. I don't think it's nothing, but it's probably not the big something that it's often made out to be.

 

You tell that to Jeff McNeil who's moving from the very plush Citi Field to a AAA bandbox in Sac-town

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Bobby Bonilla was the class of his free-agent market in the 1991-1992 offseason. He signed with the Mets for five years to what was, at the time, the most lucrative deal in the game.

If Tucker joins, he will not be that. If he is the number one guy on the market, it as perhaps the first among several equals (Bregman, Schwarber, Bichette), coming off a hand injury last season. Bonilla was coming off two top-three MVP finishes.

 

Bonilla had a .779 OPS his first year. Solid, but didn’t live up to expectations. He took off from there. .874, then .878, then .984. With two months left in his contract he was traded for one of the best prospects in baseball.

 

It's been a while. Was Alex Ochoa considered a top prospect at that time?

[Centerfield]

Yup. Alex Ochoa was the guy to get.

I can't get access to the Times article, but the headline is "Mets Get Their Man for Bonilla"

https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/29/sports/baseball-the-mets-get-their-man-for-bonilla.html

Here's one you can read.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/07/29/Orioles-acquire-Bonilla-from-Mets/2286806990400/

[Benjamin Grimm]

On Sunday, MLB Network Radio's Jim Duquette revealed that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets have all met with Tucker, either in person or through a video conference.

[Edgy MD]

No One Is Talking 'Bout Kyle Tucker is a great film title.

[Centerfield]

Per Will Sammon, the Mets are floating a three year deal in the range of $120M-$140M.

[metsmarathon]

I think I’m ok with that, if it pans out.

He’d get paid quite well for three years, then comes off the books as all of our babies start hitting their arbitration years.

Heckuva lineup with him, Soto, and Lindor, too.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd give that my stamp of approval too. It may include an opt-out (and I hate opt-outs) after year one or two, and if that's what's necessary to close the deal then I'd approve that as well.

[Fman99]

Make it so, number one

[DocTee]

Reports now saying offer made with an AAV of $50M which equates to 3/150