The Mets remain in need of a starting outfielder, and Kyle Tucker — the biggest bat out there — is still on the free agent market with spring training just over a month away.
For months, the expectation has been that Tucker would get a massive contract in terms of length, with a deal for 10 or 11 years projected by many.
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However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Monday that Tucker’s market is “the biggest mystery,” adding that he could have to “take a higher AAV on a short-term contract and hit the market again after two consecutive injury-plagued second halves.”
The Mets have been connected to Tucker throughout the offseason, and multiple recent reports indicated that they still have interest in him.
The Blue Jays have been the team most heavily linked to Tucker, but if they re-sign Bo Bichette it could take them out of the mix for Tucker. And if that happens, it’s fair to wonder if any other team would be willing to give Tucker a long-term deal.
Since trading Brandon Nimmo earlier this offseason and getting out from under the five years remaining on his contract, it has felt unlikely that the Mets would turn around and ink another outfielder to a huge deal if the years were relatively excessive.
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But if Tucker’s deal winds up being no longer than five years or so, he would make tons of sense for New York.
In addition to Tucker, the Mets have interest in fellow free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.
While a better outfield defender than Tucker and a more versatile defender overall, Bellinger’s career OPS+ of 120 is dwarfed by Tucker’s career OPS+ of 140.
When it comes to the last three seasons, Tucker has an .892 OPS (150 OPS+), while Bellinger’s is .815 (125 OPS+).
One potential issue with Tucker is that he has played right field over the last five seasons, with his last appearance in left field coming in 2020.
If Tucker signs with the Mets, either he or Juan Soto would have to play left field.
