Is signing Kyle Tucker enough to change trajectory of Mets' offseason?

The market for Kyle Tucker has been relatively slow throughout the offseason and it certainly hasn’t panned out in the way that many had expected it to. 

The free-agent outfielder may not have a $400 million offer on the table, and there has been speculation that he could end up taking a short-term deal with high AAV. If that is the case, this could be directly beneficial to the New York Mets, as they have been named one of his most aggressive suitors.

Tucker makes a ton of sense for the club on paper. After all, they need an outfielder to patch up the massive hole that Brandon Nimmo left when he was dealt earlier this offseason. 

Nimmo had a terrific tenure with the Mets, but he always struggled when it came to his throws from the outfield. This issue would no longer be a concern with the addition of Tucker, who has a better arm than Nimmo.

He would also be a good replacement for the power production they lost in their lineup after Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Tucker is not going to put up as many homers and RBI, but you can count on him for around 30 home runs and 100 RBI. Plus, he can steal bases consistently, which is an aspect that Alonso never brought to the top of their lineup.

Obtaining Tucker definitely puts the Mets on a better path to success when it comes to the 2026 season, but it doesn't fix all the issues they currently have with their roster. One area that still needs to be addressed is the starting rotation, as that was a big area of weakness that got exposed on countless occasions last year. 

Two names that have been frequently linked to the Mets are Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, as it seems "inevitable" that they will land at least one of the two starters. 

The other area that the Mets would like to add more to is the bullpen, more specifically, middle relief, as Luke Weaver and Devin Williams are already locked to be the backbone of their bullpen. 

So, again, if in fact the Mets do land Tucker, this would be one of, if not the only, positive moves that Mets GM David Stearns has made this offseason. He has completely shaken up the Mets' core and not necessarily in a good way, however, there is still time for Stearns to turn things around.

According to FanSided's Robert Murray, "The Mets have offered $50 million per season on a short-term contract to Tucker." A move of this stature not only mends the fences with the fans but it also creates a lineup that has more depth.

Tucker would be a great start for Stearns and the Mets, but there is still more work that needs to be done.