The New York Mets are enduring one of their most painful offseasons in recent memory. After watching elite closer Edwin Díaz depart for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team was hit with another blow today when star first baseman Pete Alonso agreed to a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
According to FanSided’s Chris Landers, there’s only one move left that could transform this disastrous stretch into something the Mets can actually build on: signing outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Landers didn’t hold back when laying out why Tucker should be the Mets’ top target. “With one very notable exception, that is: Kyle Tucker, a legitimate top-10 bat entering free agency ahead of his age-29 season. Tucker is everything this Mets offense is looking for, and he just so happens to play a position now vacant after the Brandon Nimmo trade. Tucker is a far better future investment than Alonso would be, even at something approaching $350-400 million, giving the Mets another star bat to pair with Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, who has a longer runway and figures to age better than Alonso will,” he wrote.
Tucker’s résumé backs up the hype. In 2024, he posted a .266/.377/.464/.841 slash line with 25 doubles, 22 homers, 73 RBI, and 25 steals across 136 games. His combination of power, plate discipline, and athleticism would slot in seamlessly alongside Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. Offensively, he could help replace much of what Alonso brought—and defensively, he’d be a clear upgrade.
Financially, the Mets are positioned to make a push. With both Alonso and Díaz off the payroll, the resources once earmarked for their contracts could easily be redirected toward Tucker’s long-term deal. For a front office under intense pressure, this is the type of bold swing that could stabilize the roster and win back a frustrated fan base.
But if the Mets strike out here, the optics get even worse. Missing on Tucker would mean coming away empty-handed on all three of the market’s biggest power bats: Tucker, Alonso, and Kyle Schwarber. After a year defined by disappointment, the Mets can’t afford another misstep. If they want to avoid further embarrassment, the mandate is clear: go all-in on Kyle Tucker.