Mets could pull of $350M heist, sign 2-time Silver Slugger, World Series champion, Gold Glover

Hunter Cookston

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Mets could pull of $350M heist, sign 2-time Silver Slugger, World Series champion, Gold Glover image

The sweepstakes for Kyle Tucker seem to take a different turn with each week that he remains unsigned. There is some belief that he could ultimately settle for a lesser deal, especially with a new CBA potentially coming after the 2026 season. However, it does not appear that he is interested in returning to the Chicago Cubs on a new contract.

“We'll see what happens. Don't know what the future is going to hold. If not, it's been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether it’s playing next year or not with them,” Tucker said at the end of the 2025 season.

Before the process fully played out, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter projected Tucker to land a massive contract worth $350 million.

“Predicted Contract: 10 years, $350 million. This would be the fifth-largest contract ever given to an outfielder, and only Juan Soto ($51 million), Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Mike Trout ($35.5 million) clock in with a higher AAV on their deals,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.

While the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers have long been viewed as teams to watch, the New York Mets may also be in the mix as Tucker’s market potentially begins to shrink.

“They'll check in on it and if his market is not what he wants it to be, they can swoop in. They could be that team that uses those resources of Steve Cohen to their advantage and say 'hey, here's a shorter offer, but the AAV - the annual average value, the dollars - it's going to be pretty high,” The Athletic’s Will Sammon wrote.

If the Mets are able to swoop in and land Tucker, it would significantly bolster their lineup and take pressure off Juan Soto. It would also position New York as a serious contender in the NL East.

Tucker’s market is in an unusual spot, especially with him still unsigned at this stage of the offseason. The Mets are looking to make this offseason count after fans have voiced their frustrations, and a move of this magnitude would certainly help make amends.

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