More updates have emerged on the New York Mets’ aggressive pursuit of four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker.
For the majority of NY Mets fans, this has been a tough-to-stomach offseason. Not only did they trade away Jeff McNeil and fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo, but they let All-Stars Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk in MLB free agency. Yet the players they have added have underwhelmed fans.
Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and Luke Weaver are impact players, but not the big splashes supporters want after moving on from core members of the team. However, there is hope of a big move soon because the club has emerged as a serious contender for the top player in free agency this offseason, Kyle Tucker.
Originally, the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs veteran was expected to land a deal worth around $400 million. But that now looks unlikely, and the four-time All-Star has started to consider short-term offers for a high annual average. Opening the door for New York to land him on a deal more to their liking.
However, while they might have a chance at getting him on just a three-year deal, new rumors this week claim the club is willing to pay a stunning $50 million yearly rate. Yet, it is unclear if that will be enough to beat out the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays — the other top contenders for Tucker.
NY Mets Willing To Give Kyle Tucker a 4-Year Deal Worth $200 Million
As they look to lock in a deal for the star outfielder, MLB expert and former Mets general manager Jim Duquette offered an update on Wednesday, and claimed he believes the club has moved to offering a four-year deal worth $50 million annually, and that the contract will include multiple opt-outs.
Furthermore, he added that NY Mets owner Steve Cohen has also gotten involved in the negotiations. That news makes sense because a four-year pact worth $200 million is a massive offer. The deal would make Tucker the second-highest-paid player in the league yearly — without deferrals — behind potential teammate Juan Soto.
The NY Mets boss was also a fixture of discussions with Soto a year ago, which ended successfully. It will be interesting to see if he and Stearns can land the top player on the free agent market for the second straight year.
