Mets Offer Kyle Tucker $50M Per Season: What It Means

The MLB offseason usually revolves around one or two big names. This winter, Kyle Tucker is in that spotlight.

Most analysts see him as the top free agent out there. The star outfielder is weighing offers from contenders, with the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays pushing hardest.

Kyle Tucker Headlines a High-Stakes Free Agent Market

Tucker’s free agency has been loud, to say the least. After he turned down a $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs following the 2025 season, the 29-year-old landed right in the middle of offseason buzz.

Teams are weighing his elite offense against recent injuries. That’s made for a tricky, fascinating negotiation process.

Not many players blend patience, power, and postseason experience quite like Tucker. Even when he’s missed time, his numbers still put him among baseball’s most dangerous left-handed bats.

Why the Mets Are Betting Big on the Short Term

League sources say the New York Mets have made a bold move: they’ve offered a short-term deal worth $50 million per season. That number alone shows they mean business and want a game-changing hitter right now.

The Mets want to avoid long-term risk and cash in on short-term upside. Tucker would fit right into a lineup desperate for steady left-handed power, especially in big moments.

If he stays healthy, he could be an MVP-level force—without the team locking itself into a decade-long contract.

The Blue Jays Take a Long-Term View

The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are thinking long-term. Reports say Toronto has put a long-term contract offer on the table, hoping Tucker can anchor their core for years.

That fits with how the Blue Jays have been building lately. They want to stay in the mix in the American League, and Tucker would bring some much-needed balance to their lineup.

What Makes Tucker So Appealing to Front Offices

Even with injuries over the past two seasons, Tucker’s underlying stats are still elite. In 2025, he joined Juan Soto in some rare company.

• One of only two hitters with a 1-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio
• Slugging percentage above .500
• Four-time All-Star selection

That mix of discipline and power? It’s just not easy to find, especially in free agency.

Injuries: The Only Real Question Mark

Any honest evaluation of Tucker has to mention his health. Over the last two seasons, he’s battled a fractured right hand and a calf strain, both of which threw off his momentum and kept him out of the lineup.

When he came back from the hand injury in 2025, Tucker’s numbers dipped. He hit just .218 in July and .244 in August, which isn’t what we’re used to seeing from him.

Even during that slump, pitchers didn’t take him lightly.

A Closer Look at His 2025 Performance

Before injuries got in the way, Tucker looked fantastic. In the first half, he hit .280 with 17 home runs and made his fourth All-Star team.

He ended the year with 22 homers and 73 RBIs in 136 games, mostly serving as the Cubs’ designated hitter during their playoff run.

A Decision That Could Shape the Offseason

Tucker’s got a classic free-agent dilemma on his hands. Should he take a short-term, high-stakes offer from the Mets?

Or does he go for the longer-term, steadier path with the Blue Jays? Either way, his choice is going to send ripples through the league and probably change how teams look at elite hitters with recent injuries.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Sources: Mets offer $50M per season to Tucker