Mets' $140M Kyle Tucker contract offer in danger if Dodgers, Blue Jays exploit major gray area

Hunter Cookston

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Mets' $140M Kyle Tucker contract offer in danger if Dodgers, Blue Jays exploit major gray area image

The Kyle Tucker sweepstakes are starting to heat up, and major decisions are expected very soon. At the start of the offseason, it was widely believed that Tucker would land a lucrative 10-year contract, but that has yet to materialize.

“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.

With Tucker not pursuing a long-term deal—especially given the potential new CBA at the conclusion of this season—the New York Mets have stepped in with confidence. After a disappointing offseason, a deal for Tucker could help salvage their situation.

“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.

However, the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers could make moves that might push the Mets out of contention.

“If the New York Mets are in the range of offering $120 million to $140 million for over three years to free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, as league sources on Tuesday suggested is the case, the question is whether that will be enough. It is possible that the Toronto Blue Jays or the Los Angeles Dodgers, two other contenders for Tucker, offer more than New York. It is also possible that the Mets could go up, but they’ve shown a desire so far this offseason to act with some level of discipline,” Sammon said.

If the Dodgers and Blue Jays engage in an all-out bidding war for Tucker, it seems unlikely that the Mets will continue pursuing him. That has been the pattern for New York this offseason.

Tucker would be a huge addition, but considering the other teams in the race, it doesn’t appear that the Mets are the favorites. The Blue Jays are on the verge of losing Bo Bichette, and they are unlikely to let go of their top two targets this winter.

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