Mets offer Kyle Tucker $50 million per year in MLB free agency chase

An offseason that at the moment has been known for change instead could be remembered for dollars — a lot of them.

The Mets have offered Kyle Tucker a short-term contract that is worth $50 million per season, a source confirmed Tuesday. FanSided first reported the eye-opening average annual value for the top free agent available, who is believed to also be sought by at least the Blue Jays and Dodgers.

The specifics of the proposal are not clear, but it would be a shorter deal that would see Steve Cohen pay $101 million per season in starting corner outfielders, pairing Tucker with Juan Soto ($51 million per).

The Mets need an outfielder — at least one — to replace Brandon Nimmo, who with Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Jeff McNeil left via trade or free agency in a winter makeover in Queens.

Adding Tucker, who is the best bat on the market, has been an All-Star four years straight, is turning 29 this weekend and met recently with the Mets over Zoom, would certainly change the narrative around the team. 

Asked earlier in the day if the heavy lifting for the offseason is done and the bulk of the moves to come would be on the periphery, David Stearns said: “I wouldn’t take anything off the table. I think we are and will continue to be involved in talks at all ranges of free agency and the trade market.”