Copyright Essentially Sports
It feels like every time a big-name free agent hits the market, the Mets are one of the first teams to get mentioned. With their history of massive contracts and deep pockets, people just assume they’ll make a splash every offseason. The Yankees, on the other hand, are almost always in the mix, too. So, if there’s a star available, their name comes up. Now, with Kyle Tucker reportedly set to hit free agency, both New York teams are being linked to him again. But according to recent reports, it looks like the Yankees might actually be leading the race this time. As for the Mets? They might not be the best fit for Tucker after all, and here’s why. “I don’t see the fit for the Mets because they have two corner outfielders already, so I. I just don’t see how they get that bad into the lineup.” SleeperMets quoted MLB insider Andy Martino. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Well, the Mets already have two corner outfielders locked in… Brandon Nimmo, who’s settled nicely into left field, and Starling Marte, who’s still under contract in right (even if his health has been inconsistent). Now, adding Tucker would either push one of them out of position or force the team to spend big money on a luxury rather than a need. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Combine that with the Mets’ likely focus on pitching depth and infield upgrades, and it’s easy to see why they’re not expected to make a serious run at Tucker — even if they have the financial muscle to do it. However, with Tucker, the Mets would have an extra reliable slugger who finished this year with 22 HR at .266 BA. Just when the Mets stepped back from the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, the Yankees emerged as the stronger contender. Torn between Tucker and Cody Bellinger, the Yankees seem to lean toward Tucker’s superior consistency. As The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner noted, over the past three seasons Tucker’s wRC+ sits at 147, compared to Bellinger’s 123, with higher OBP (.380 vs. .338) and SLG (.511 vs. .477). Tucker also headlines a loaded free agent class with stars like Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Corbin Burnes. The Yankees, used to crossing the luxury tax line, remain aggressive in their win-now push. The Mets, meanwhile, have shifted gears under David Stearns, focusing on pitching and roster balance after their previous big-spending seasons fell short. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports With rotation gaps and bullpen uncertainty, the Mets are expected to pursue arms like Jordan Hicks, Josh Hader, or Michael King while developing prospects such as Christian Scott and Blade Tidwell. For now, discipline and long-term stability matter more to them than a $400 million outfielder—even one as talented as Kyle Tucker. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The Mets need to rebuild their bullpen Well, the Mets’ botched trade deadline show this year proved heavy. They blew up in the clutch moments, resulting in missing a postseason berth. So, now it looks like most of those relievers could be gone. For instance, Edwin Diaz is expected to use his opt-out, and the team is skeptical about bringing him back. And check the Mets’ history, they are not the ones to hand out massive contracts to relievers. Moreover, a few other names, like Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto, and Ryne Stanek, are hitting free agency. Then there’s Reed Garrett and Dedniel Nunez, who will miss next season after Tommy John surgery. So, we think there are no other options left for the Mets other than seeking external help. If Diaz leaves, this could turn into one of the biggest bullpen overhauls the Mets have had in years. That’s why spending something close to $400 million on Kyle Tucker doesn’t make much sense… It would eat up too much payroll flexibility at a time when they’ll need to rebuild their relief corps from the ground up.
