Kyle Tucker entered the offseason as the most coveted free agent in pro baseball.
Fast forward to today, and the former Chicago Cubs star still hasn’t put pen to paper. That’s not because of a lack of interest, however. If anything, his most aggressive suitors will now have to engage in the biggest bidding war of the offseason. Still, it’s not just about the money but also about the chance to compete at the highest level.
That’s why, as the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported, the New York Mets might have a tough time signing him. While they can make him a huge offer, he’s also being coveted by the two best teams in baseball.
Mets, Dodgers and Blue Jays lead the race for Kyle Tucker
“The Mets are seen as one of three top contenders for Kyle Tucker and will be ‘opportunistic,’ if they can match up,” Heyman wrote. “What might make things tough: The other two top contenders, as SNY’s Jim Duquette said, are the attractive World Series combatants, the Jays and Dodgers.”
Tucker is coming off a down year by his standards because of injuries. He still hit .266 with 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases. Still, he’s a proven commodity, and with the hottest teams in baseball going to war for him, whoever gets him will have to pay up.
The Mets, who let Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz go, would reportedly give him a short-term deal with a high AAV. That being said, they may not have enough leverage in this situation, and it might go down to who’s willing to write the bigger check.