Latest massive leaked Mets offer to Kyle Tucker is clear attempt to strongarm Dodgers

The Blue Jays, Mets, and Dodgers are understood to be the three most likely teams to end Kyle Tucker's drawn-out free agency. They've all met with the player at least once (Tucker visited Toronto early into this process), but the Blue Jays have stood out thus far as the only one who might be willing to give Tucker a long-term deal.

The Mets and Dodgers have made it clear where they stand: short-term with a high AAV. In that case, it'd be up to the respective front offices to differentiate themselves with the money involved, but the Mets also have a tougher case to make. They don't have the same winning culture as the Dodgers, and their roster teardown this offseason has been a little ... disquieting, to say the least.

New York and LA have been in their own stratosphere in terms of spending over the past few years, but could the Mets really be prepared to offer the kind of money that could actually make the Dodgers back off?

Maybe.

Per FanSided insider Robert Murray, the Mets have offered Tucker a short-term deal worth $50 million a year.

Mets have reportedly offered Kyle Tucker a short-term deal worth $50 million per season

Steve Cohen did promise Mets fans that their 2026 payroll would look generally similar to 2025's, and with Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Edwin Díaz off the books, signing Tucker to a deal of this magnitude would fulfill that promise. They clearly don't care about all of those lingering rumors that Tucker doesn't "burn to play" baseball, or that he might not thrive in such a high-intensity environment. They just want to redeem their offseason and add a superstar to their outfield for the second consecutive season.

The Mets are daring the Dodgers to meet their offer or find a clever way to make their own more enticing. The key to that could be in the years; it feels impossible that they've extended more than three to Tucker at that high a price per year. If the Dodgers were to up to four, with a more market value-appropriate $41-42 million a year, could that get the job done?

No one would necessarily blame Tucker for cashing a check like that, but there still the "LOL Mets" of it all to consider. They try to operate like a serious franchise but don't play like one.

If the Dodgers can sell Tucker on that idea while giving him a fair deal, they might still have a dog in this fight.