On Players Who Left

He discussed how he can understand when fans get upset when fan favorite players leave the team. Those players were with the team when he first took ownership of the team and he developed relationships with them. He said it creates anxiety when player leave and you have not replaced them yet.

Howie described the Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil trades as, “strictly baseball decisions,” compared to deciding not to bring back players who were free agents. On Pete Alonso, Cohen said that under certain circumstances he could have seen a reunion but bluntly stated, “we weren’t going to go five years.” He said Pete got a great offer that would not have worked for the Mets. Every move they made this offseason was not thinking only about 2026, but for the future as well.

On Edwin Díaz, Cohen stated he felt the Mets offer was better than the Dodgers’ offer because their offer did not include the fourth-year conditional club option. He said he found the Díaz negotiations perplexing and that he still does not know how Edwin came to his decision, but Díaz made the decision he felt was best for him. He also said he felt Stearns was very clever to sign Devin Williams when he did and not hedge everything on Díaz returning.

Freddy Peralta. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

On the New Mets Players

Cohen used the word “disciplined” to describe the New York Mets this offseason. He also said it was rollercoaster and said he is routinely reminded by president of baseball operations David Stearns that the offseason does not end in December and can continue well into February.

Cohen described the front office as preparing for all possibilities throughout the offseason and that they were talking with Bo Bichette throughout the Kyle Tucker negotiations. They understood there was no guarantee Tucker would come to Queens and once the roster was completed he said he feels now that Bichette fits the roster better than Tucker would have. Similar to Díaz, he felt the Mets’ bid was superior to the Dodgers’ but the player made a decision based on personal preference.

Cohen described the new Mets’ roster as fun to watch with a hitters that bring better defense and a lot of contact. He is excited for the young players coming up from the minors as well as the players acquired through free agency and trades. Nolan McLean is one prospect he said he is excited to watch pitch in 2026. He described new starter Freddy Peralta as an established veteran that is great in the clubhouse and brings a great personality.

Cohen said he always wanted the Mets’ roster to have a balance of young players and veterans and what they are building here can over the next few years create sustainable success.

On the State of the Mets’ Organization

Cohen stated he is excited by the 2026 Mets roster and described the new faces as “gamers” that are playoff tested and playoff performers. Cohen said he is excited by the energy these new players have brought to spring training and said he thinks fans are going to be excited by the type of ball the Mets are going to play.

Cohen added he has a great relationship with manager Carlos Mendoza and that he will talk and text Mendoza when he has an idea. He said he and Stearns are in constant contact and he loves that whenever he has a question Stearns always knows the answer. “It takes a lot of anxiety away from me that I know things are run the way they are supposed to be run,” Cohen explained. He described the front office as very strong.

He also said that while he is heavily involved in the team as a whole, he usually does not interfere with baseball decisions. He will make suggestions, but in the end David Stearns and his staff have the final say. He says he tried to ask the right questions and hold his staff accountable, but they are far more knowledgeable than he is on what the best baseball decisions are. He is not going to step in and override David Stearns.

We saw that process work well in 2025 when they followed Stearns’ plan to wait out the Alonso market. Stearns then brought Cohen in at the end of the process when they signed Alonso to his two-year contract with an opt out.

Carlos Beltrán. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

On the Mets Hall of Fame

On the inductions of Carlos Beltrán, Bobby Valentine, and Lee Mazzilli Cohen described those discussions and phone calls. Cohen gets the final say on who is inducted and described the process as something he looks forward to. He loves getting to have that phone call to notify them they have been selected and said all three of them are still heavily involved in the organization. He said all three of them do not shy away from giving their advice or view of the current Mets.

Carlos Beltrán is a special advisor to the Mets currently and was just voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with a Mets cap. He described Beltran as a resource that communicates well with players and develops strong relationships and trust with them. He also provides a viewpoint and expertise that helps the front office and the team think about all aspects of what they are trying to accomplish. Beltran is only the third player to go in with a Mets cap on and Cohen wants to see more players reach the Hall of Fame as Mets.

On the 1986 Mets

Howie described the 1986 Mets as their contemporaries. Howie turned 72 soon after recording the interview and Cohen is turning 70 in June. Cohen has gotten to know Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling well through their work at SNY. He got to know Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden through their number retirement process. He touched on how he has gotten to know those members as well as Mookie Wilson and had dinners with them hearing them talk about how much they love baseball and love to share their stories and experiences. He said his discussions with these former Mets stars also impacts how he views the team now. 2026 will be the 40th anniversary of that World Series season.

On Metropolitan Park

Howie described that vision as finally becoming reality. When Cohen bought this team he kept hearing about how there is nothing to do before or after the game. He became dedicated to make Citi Field a destination that people will want to spend the whole day at. Their goal is to make the community and fans proud with this project. It is complex and they are continually spending a lot of time thinking about it and how they can improve the area.

On the Upcoming CBA Negotiations

Cohen described himself as just one of 30 owners and that a lot can happen over the course of the 2026 season before he needs to worry about the CBA negotiations. He will let central baseball handle that and he will stay focused on the 2026 season and bringing a championship to Queens. It is hard to predict the future so he will figure it out when they get there.

The post Steve Cohen Interview with Howie Rose appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Now, some of the focus shifts towards pitching amendments. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Milwaukee Brewers are continuing to field offers on their pitching ace, Freddy Peralta. Per Heyman, the Mets are among the teams interested in Peralta, including the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants and Braves.

Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Congratulations to Mets pitcher Nolan McLean and his wife, Avery, on their marriage.

Latest MLB News

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Blue Jays’ offer to Kyle Tucker was $350 million for 10 years.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic,  free-agent right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott is in agreement with the Washington Nationals on a minor league contract.

Rosenthal also reported that Ryan Pressly has announced his retirement after spending 19 years in professional baseball.

Per Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency, Sung Mun Song will be missing four weeks recovering from an oblique injury.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna broke down the stats and details of the Mets’ newest infielder, Bo Bichette.

The Get Metsmerized Podcast talked on their latest podcast episode about the big offseason splash made by the Mets in bringing in Bo Bichette.

Robert Colonna discussed whether or not Brett Baty can play left field.

Michelle Ioannou and The Metsmerized staff reacts to the Bo Bichette signing in an MMO roundtable.

On This Date in Mets History

2013: Mike Piazza missed out on making the Hall of Fame by almost 100 votes in his first year on the ballot. Three years later in 2016, he was inducted after receiving 83% of votes.

The post Morning Briefing: Brewers Continuing to Field Offers on Peralta appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The big news from Friday was that the Mets signed infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract with opt-outs after Years 1 and 2. The news was first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Bichette is the Mets’ answer after losing the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes to the Dodgers. Bichette is a career .294 batter who hit .311/.357/.483/.840 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs across 139 games last season. He is expected to play third base, a position he has never played before in the major leagues.

Not only did the Mets add a formidable bat to their lineup, but they potentially persuaded him from going to a vaunted division rival. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies agreed Thursday night to Bichette’s ask of a seven-year, $200 million contract, but the Mets came with an offer that would not be beat.

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

In a follow-up article for The Athletic after Bichette signed with the Mets, Will Sammon detailed the team’s preparation on the infielder that allowed them to pivot off of Tucker so quickly. Per Sammon, “The Mets’ talks with Bichette began at the GM meetings, league sources said. Not knowing what to make of their chances with Tucker, the Mets met with Bichette via video within the last week.”

Per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Mets are expected to play Brett Baty at multiple positions, including left field.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB Network, the Mets could become just the second team in the last 100 years to start two non-rookie infielders on Opening Day with one career game or fewer played at their position. This would occur if Bo Bichette starts at third and Jorge Polanco starts at first, positions that will be new for both players.

The Mets claimed infielder Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the Rays. Cheng has just seven career at-bats at the major league level, all of which came in 2025 with the Pirates. He spent most of the season in Triple-A with the Pirates, where he struggled mightily with a .578 OPS.

Mets prospect Ryan Clifford came in as MLB Pipeline‘s no. 5 first base prospect. Clifford had an .826 OPS and 29 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025.

Latest MLB News

The Phillies, who thought they were getting Bichette before the Mets swooped in, instead re-signed catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract. Realmuto was once one of the best catchers in the game, but his numbers have trailed off the past few years. He had a .700 OPS in 134 games in 2025.

The Twins signed catcher Victor Caratini to a two-year, $14 million deal. Caratini spent the past two seasons with the Astros, where he performed well offensively. In 2025, he recorded a .728 OPS in 114 games.

Latest on MMO

In the latest MMO Roundtable, we react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Dodgers.

Jack Markowski discusses how Bo Bichette signing with the Mets will impact their lineup.

David Melendi details the latest rumors, including that the Mets might still be in on Cody Bellinger.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Colin Poche (1994), Dario Álvarez (1989), Don Zimmer (1931).

The post Morning Briefing: Bo Bichette Nearly Had Agreement With Phillies appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

With all that said, the Mets badly needed a player of Tucker’s caliber, and now their outfield still looks grim. Cody Bellinger is still a free agent, and there have been whispers of interest in Lars Nootbaar from the Cardinals. One thing is for sure: Steven Cohen and David Stearns have a lot of work to do.

With that, here are our reactions in light of the Tucker news.

Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Patrick Glynn

My response: if the boos in Chicago worried Kyle Tucker, I can’t wait until he shows face around the league! This is worse than Kevin Durant joining the Warriors. This is like if DeMar Derozan joined the Warriors during their championship run. Good for you, but are you going to be the reason they win it all?  Was it the ring you were seeking? Will you get what you wanted? Was that $60 million? Great job on your agent’s behalf.

Matthew Tutrone

Never thought I’d say this, but maybe a lockout in 2027 will actually be good for the long-term health of MLB. Disparity has gotten far too out of control, and the league probably needs a reset. I stand with the Players’ Union, and there are far too many bum owners with no interest in fielding an actually competitive team, but what the Dodgers have been doing the past few years is just bad for competitiveness across the league. There definitely needs to be a salary floor, but there may need to be a cap too.

James Villani

Surely the Mets were involved, and credit to Stearns, Cohen, and staff for being that, however, based off what was leaking beforehand it truly didn’t seem like the Mets were a realistic landing spot and more so just used as a bargaining chip. If that was indeed the case, what could you have done differently?

As for Tucker, I’ll never blame an athlete for chasing championships or money. Luckily for him, he gets both of those things in one of the most lucrative deals in the sport’s history. All power to him.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki 

All the focus was on the Blue Jays and Mets, but I had a feeling that the radio silence coming from Los Angeles meant the Dodgers were lurking. Here we are, the Dodgers have snagged another prized free agent. The Mets, and the 29 other teams, can try all they want, but in the end, it’s going be nearly impossible to stop a Dodgers three-peat. They keep adding to their Death Star, and have cemented themselves as the evil empire of MLB. There is still time for the Mets to make some moves, but it’s hard to envision them getting within even shouting distance of the Dodgers.

Dave Melendi

It’s disappointing. Adding Tucker would have been the first move this offseason that I would have been excited about. The core is gone and the players brought in to replace them to me are underwhelming.

Brandyn Pokrass

Seeing the numbers, I can’t fault the Mets here. Going to $55 million for Tucker, especially with no deferrals, is a damn good offer. The Dodgers, with their $2.1 Billion in deferred money, can evidently get whoever they want though.

I am truly fascinated in how the Mets approach the rest of the offseason. There are avenues to improving the team, but there isn’t really a Kyle Tucker-level player out there anymore, unless you consider Bellinger to be that. Add in the need for pitching, and this is truly a task that David Stearns was hired for.

And on a large picture front, baseball is heading for a BAD lockout. The deferral rule is getting abused by the Dodgers, to the point where every other contender that wants to spend money can’t really compete with them. A large chunk of the league refuses to spend money on players. Spring training is around the corner, and plenty of impact players are still unsigned. The war over a salary cap/floor is going to be ugly, and that’s not including the various other issues that are sure to pop up during negotiations. We should all enjoy baseball while we have it in 2026, because there is no guarantee that we will have it for the following season.

Johnluke Chaparro

I am incredibly annoyed and disappointed. Not at Steve Cohen or David Stearns, though. $75 million signing bonus along with a 50 plus million AAV with no deferrals is throwing the bank and they tried their hardest. What grinds my gears is that even with all of the money thrown at him, he spurned us to take the easy way out for a ring. I mean, good for him, I guess? It’s his choice but why must the Mets be used as a team to bounce off of for a negotiation instead of a destination? I know, World Series titles and all, but (and I’m probably biased saying this) New York is a wonderful place to play and when you win here? You are basically an idol. We might be a bit out there but the fan base treats it’s players well for the most part! Give us results and we’ll love you back!

Maybe I’m looking too deep into something that’s not really relevant but I’m annoyed that we get pulled into this false sense of promise, only to have the rug pulled under us. Maybe Tucker isn’t cut out for New York, and if that were the case, why drag us into the fight to begin with? All for a negotiating ploy? I’m all for teams spending money and it’s good for the game, but it feels like a cop out when a team with massive amounts of money feels the need to constantly defer. It feels very shady and counter intuitive to what they should be doing (and what the Mets actually do).

I’ll never totally get on a player for wanting to join a winner but it feels very cheap when players keep joining the Dodgers bandwagon on these contracts that undercut the market. Why should the Dodgers be praised when they pay half of what a player should get right now, when the Mets actually give the player the current value they are entitled? It just feels like we were ripped off by both Tucker and the Dodgers.

Nick Kalantzopoulos

My thoughts when the signing went down were “lol of course he did” followed quicky by “60 million?! I mean that’s just insane.” I’ll say from the second we heard it was the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Mets as the finalists, I had the Dodgers getting him the entire time. The fact that the Blue Jays were the only team offering him long term and that he didn’t take that means he was looking for a reason not to and he found that in the NY/LA offers. And if the Mets/Dodgers were offering similar styles of contract, which was always reported, there was no reason not to pick the Dodgers.

Here’s what I’ll say to those who want a salary cap in response. The Dodgers’ CBT is now going to far exceed 400M. So is this supposed salary cap gonna be 500M? Is it gonna be 300-400M and the Dodgers are going to be forced to get rid of players immediately? Are contracts going to be grandfathered in? The short answer is there won’t be a cap, and if there was one it’d either A. Severely penalize the dodgers INSTANTLY (the league would never go for that let alone the players), or B. It wouldn’t severely penalize them and they’d still be spending way more than any other team.

And we don’t have to imagine what a free agency involving a salary cap (and a deadline!) would look like for a star player. We had that last year with Roki Sasaki. And how did that one end up? He went to the Dodgers. The only difference: the player got less than he deserved, the owner pocketed the difference and the team (thus far) doesn’t get penalized for making an overpriced signing. So as always, be careful what you wish for.

The post MMO Roundtable: Reaction to Kyle Tucker Signing With Dodgers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Tucker, 28, is a four-time All-Star with power and speed who hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 136 games for the Cubs last year, his only season in Chicago after seven in Houston. He will now fit nicely into a batting order featuring MVP winners Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.

Tucker has hit 22 to 30 home runs for five consecutive seasons, led the American League in RBIs in 2023 with 112, won a Gold Glove in 2022 and Silver Sluggers in 2023 and 2025. He has three top 20 MVP finishes, coming in as high as fifth in 2023. He has posted 4.2 to 4.9 fWAR in each of the last five years as well.

While in the big picture, Tucker has been a model of consistency, it was an uneven year in Chicago.

He looked like an MVP candidate for three months, even playing through and hitting well despite suffering a fracture between his ring finger and pinky on a stolen base attempt on June 1. But the second half was rough; maybe the injury caught up with him. From June 29 to Aug. 21, Tucker hit one home run. The home crowd booed him in August. He was given a couple of days off for a mental reset.

“The fans are frustrated and Kyle’s frustrated,” manager Craig Counsell said on Aug. 18. “And it’s unfortunate, because Kyle, when you make outs, it doesn’t look great. But he’s trying. It’s just not clicking. We’re going to have to take a little step back here, for sure, and just give him some days off to reset him, hopefully.”

Tucker responded well after returning, with five multi-hit games and four home runs in a dozen games after the mental reset. But in early September, he went on the injured list with a calf strain and missed several weeks. He returned on the regular season’s final weekend and went 7-for-27 with a home run in the playoffs.

Tucker has played in 72 playoff games, slashing .233/.317/.376 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 279 plate appearances. He won a ring with the 2022 Astros.

The post Kyle Tucker Signs With Dodgers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kyle Tucker, OF

Position: OF, B/T: L/R

Player Data: Age: 28 (01/17/1997)

2025 Traditional Stats: 136 G, 597 PA, .266/.377/.464/.841, 133 H, 22 HR, 73 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 136 wRC+, 14.7 K%, 14.6 BB%, .282 BABIP, .382 xwOBA, 4.5 fWAR

Rundown

After being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2015, Kyle Tucker went on to develop into a star. Despite some early struggles in Houston, Tucker ended a seven-year career with a line of .274/.353/.516/.870 with 125 HR and 417 RBI with the Astros. From 2021 to 2024, Tucker ranked 11th in baseball in wRC+ and 14th in fWAR, cementing himself as a staple in the major leagues. Tucker played a vital role in winning the 2022 World Series over the Phillies. However, with an impending free agency on the horizon, Tucker was traded from Houston to Chicago prior to the 2025 season. After being traded to Chicago this offseason, Tucker had a rollercoaster of a season with the Cubs.

Through the end of June, Tucker looked like he was heading towards an incredible free agency, tying Pete Alonso for fifth in wRC+. However, after a very rough second half of the year, some injury issues, and a mediocre playoffs, 2025 looked like just a very solid year from a very solid player. At first glance, the underlying metrics for the 2025 season look great. Elite xwOBA, fantastic chase rate and BB%, very strong batted ball profile. However, Tucker posted a career low in hard hit rate, a low max exit velocity, and a league-average exit velocity. These may be related to the lingering hairline fracture in his hand sustained in June, but still not super encouraging. It is fair to believe these results may be outliers and bet on the previous consistency of the fantastic previous four seasons.

Overall, the 2025 season was still a good year, and his xBA (.282) and xSLG (.500) tend to suggest that he was potentially a little unlucky. Tucker has produced 20+ homers in each of the last five seasons, with All-Star appearances in the last four. Of concern is his recent injury bug. Tucker played only 78 games in 2024 and, despite playing 136 games in 2025, experienced both hand and hamstring injuries. Still, Tucker enters free agency as a premier player in the sport with tons of upside. While his best defensive days may be behind him (-2 OOA), he profiles as an elite middle of the order hitter for any team.

Contract

Tucker enters the offseason widely regarded as the top UFA bat on the market. Spotrac gives Tucker a market value of $40.2 million average annual value (AAV) and a projected contract of 10 years, $401.7M. Those values for AAV and total contract value would rank Tucker fifth and fourth, respectively, in the major leagues. As the crowning jewel of the 2026 FA class, all of the big-market teams will be in on Tucker. Outside of Cody Bellinger, there aren’t many other great options for major impact outfielders.

Despite some injury issues in the past two seasons, Tucker is a cornerstone piece of a franchise and can step in immediately to improve any franchise for years to come.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

After the 2024 season, David Stearns said that “pretty much the entirety of the player universe is potentially accessible to us”, and with the contract Juan Soto just signed, I believe him. It is reasonable to assume that an outfielder, specifically center field, is a pressing area of need for the Mets. Cedric Mullins is a free agent and likely will not be brought back, Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto are locked into long-term deals, which could end up seeing some DH time sooner rather than later, and Tyrone Taylor did not play well enough to earn a starting job in 2026. However, I am not sure if a Tucker deal makes sense for the Mets.

As great as Tucker has been in the past, it is difficult to assemble a team with three long-term deals of over $34 million AAV each. Committing $125 million or more annually to three players limits financial flexibility and roster flexibility, two things that I am not sure Stearns wants to do. I think the Mets will check in and monitor the situation, which I believe is the correct thing to do. Undeniably, Tucker is a great player who makes any team better. The Mets should be involved in his free agent process, but if the contract numbers approach the Spotrac projections, I don’t know if it’s a move that the Mets should make.

Would Tucker make the Mets a better team? Absolutely. Inserting Tucker into the Mets lineup for the rest of his career would drastically improve their offense. However, for the price tag that he is likely going to cost, the Mets might be better off spending the money he would require on other parts of the team while other free agents hold down the fort for Carson Benge.

The post Free Agent Profile: Kyle Tucker, OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

A source told former Mets GM Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio that the Mets, Blue Jays and Dodgers have each met with Kyle Tucker in person or via Zoom in an effort to recruit the four-time All-Star. The three clubs are considered the main competition for the 28-year-old’s services.

In other hot stove news, the Mets might be best positioned to trade for Freddy Peralta, according to an analysis by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Brewers ideally want a young, MLB-ready pitcher in return for their ace. Rosenthal and Sammon speculated that the Mets could offer Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat or Christian Scott.

The Braves, Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers also have young arms that may interest Milwaukee. Peralta will earn $8 million in 2026 and then become a free agent. In considering a deal, the Brewers are factoring in that if they hold on to Peralta this season and he leaves after rejecting a qualifying offer, they would receive draft pick compensation.

It would be a dramatic twist to the offseason if the Mets ended up with Tucker and Peralta. Who doesn’t love a dramatic twist?

Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Luisangel Acuña cooled off Sunday. A day after becoming the first to hit four homers in a Venezuelan Winter League game, he went 0-for-5 with a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base.

Acuña has been tearing up the VWL even before the outburst. He entered Sunday slashing .282/.397/.542 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 39 games. He had also recorded three triples, seven doubles, scored 41 runs and stole 12 bases in 16 attempts.

Latest MLB News

Rosenthal reports that $70 million of Alex Bregman‘s five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs will be deferred. His deal is expected to be in the $30-$31 million per year range. Rosenthal also reported that after agent Scott Boras helped secure a five-year deal for the 32-year-old Bregman, he could be looking for a seven-year deal for his 30-year-old client Cody Bellinger.

The Yankees, Rosenthal reported, don’t want to go that long, and Boras “is not going to relent until later in the offseason, if he does at all.” The Mets have been linked to Bellinger in reports this offseason.

An MMO poll on X over the weekend asked if you could only acquire one player, who would it be among Peralta, Tucker, Framber Valdez or Bellinger? The results: Tucker (66 percent), Peralta (15 percent) Bellinger (11 percent) and Valdez (7 percent). There were 1,522 responses.

The Reds signed free agent reliever Pierce Johnson, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Johnson, 34, went 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.20 WHIP for the Braves last year. He struck out 59 in 59 innings pitched.

Latest on MMO

James Villani recaps Acuña’s big night.

John Wilson points his statistical spotlight on Luke Weaver‘s durability. He threw 64 2/3 innings last season, which would have ranked second on the Mets last season behind Edwin Díaz.

On This Date in Mets History

1972: The Mets select catcher Ron Hodges in the second round of the draft. He plays his entire 12-year career (1973-1984) with the Mets, hitting 19 home runs and slashing .240/.342/.322 in 666 games.

Born on This Date: Luis Ayala (1978), Jorge Velandia (1975), Mike Marshall (1960), Randy Jones (1950).

The post Morning Briefing: Kyle Tucker Watch Continues appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The below is a list of these remaining free agents organized by projected 2026 Fangraphs’ wins above replacement (WAR). All the position players are being projected at least 1.0 fWAR, all starters at least 1.0 fWAR, and all relief pitchers at least 0.3 fWAR.

Position Players:

• Kyle Tucker, OF
• Bo Bichette, INF
• Alex Bregman, 3B
• Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF
• Eugenio Suárez, 3B
• J.T. Realmuto, C
• Luis Arraez, INF
• Harrison Bader, OF
• Marcell Ozuna, DH
• Willi Castro, INF
• Luis Rengifo, INF
• Victor Caratini, C/1B
• Miguel Andújar, OF/3B
• Yoán Moncada, 3B
• Jesse Winker, OF/DH

Starting Pitchers:

• Framber Valdez, SP
• Ranger Suárez, SP
• Zac Gallen, SP
• Chris Bassitt, SP
• Zack Littell, SP
• Justin Verlander, SP
• Jon Gray, SP
• Max Scherzer, SP
• Nick Martinez, SP
• Aaron Civale, SP
• Lucas Giolito, SP
• Miles Mikolas, SP
• Martín Pérez, SP
• Tomoyuki Sugano, SP
• Jose Quintana, SP
• Patrick Corbin, SP
• Chris Paddack, SP
• Alex Cobb, SP
• Marcus Stroman, SP
• Griffin Canning, SP
• Austin Gomber, SP

Relief Pitchers:

• Seranthony Domínguez, RHP
• Justin Wilson, LHP
• David Robertson, RHP
• Tyler Kinley, RHP
• Danny Coulombe, LHP
• Ryan Pressly, RHP
• Pierce Johnson, RHP
• Jakob Junis, RHP
• Evan Phillips, RHP
• Jonathan Loáisiga, RHP
• Luis García, RHP
• Scott Barlow, RHP
• Andrew Chafin, LHP

The post Top Remaining Free Agents According To Fangraphs WAR appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starting Pitching

Another domino is off the board as Tatsuya Imai signs with the Astros on a three year, $54 million deal that includes incentives and opt outs. Both Mark Feinsand and Jon Heyman stated that the Mets were not heavily involved in the bidding for Imai.

Per Heyman, the Mets are still looking to bolster the front end of their rotation and like Framber Valdez on a short term deal if his market lands there. President of baseball operations David Stearns was an assistant general manager in Houston when the Astros first signed Valdez as an international free agent in 2015. Feinsand also mentioned that the trade market could be where the Mets find a starter to lead their rotation and mentioned Brewers starter Freddy Peralta as an option. Heyman also linked the Mets to Ranger Suárez.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Outfield

After trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien, the Mets have at least one opening in the outfield. Heyman mentioned that the Mets have checked in on Kyle Tucker and speculated that while Tucker may not receive the $400 million contract that was expected in the beginning of the offseason, he should still end up in the $300 million range. Feinsand labeled the Blue Jays as the favorites for Tucker, but stated that the Mets cannot be counted out “given their need for outfield help and their general willingness to spend big when they feel it’s appropriate.”

Heyman mentioned that Cody Bellinger may be the best fit for the Mets due to his versatility and the expectation that he will command a shorter deal than Tucker. The Dodgers, Giants and Blue Jays have all been linked to him, but Heyman believes it will likely come down to the Mets or the Yankees. Heyman previously reported that the Yankees had made a formal offer to Bellinger. Feinsand stated that it is not believed a Bellinger signing is imminent.

The post Rumor Roundup: Mets Linked to Bellinger, Tucker and Frontline Starters appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Whether all the change will result in a positive or negative year in Queens is simply unknowable right now.

It will certainly look drastically different, that’s for sure. We can take that particular notion to the bank right now.

For starters, it is going to take some getting used to not seeing Edwin Díaz emerge from the bullpen in the ninth inning. I think the first time we don’t hear “Narco” blaring around Citi Field will be when it really hits home that Díaz is no longer a Met.

However, that won’t be the most galling change in 2026. No matter how many memorable moments Díaz gave Mets fans over six largely stellar years.

No, what will really come as a severe jolt to the system will be the absence of the three homegrown Mets. If you think the prospect of no Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil is weird now, think how much stranger it will be once we get to Opening Day.

It is hard to envision a lineup card without those three names in it. After all, Nimmo was a staple in a Mets uniform for a decade. McNeil has been a big part of this organization ever since making his debut in 2018. And Pete Alonso needed just seven years to establish himself as the best power hitter in franchise history. Not to mention taking Darryl Strawberry‘s home run crown.

Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

END OF AN ERA

In many ways, Nimmo, Alonso, and McNeil have been the very heartbeat of the Mets for the best part of a decade.

Nimmo was the longest-tenured Met and absolutely beloved by fans. He personified what it meant to play in Queens, embracing everything that came with playing for the organization. If the Mets were ever going to name a captain, Nimmo would have been the main contender alongside Francisco Lindor.

As much as McNeil frustrated the life out of this fanbase over the last couple of years, the veteran provided plenty of happy memories in Queens. He won a batting title, was named a Silver Slugger, and was always good for a highlight-reel play in the field.

And where do we even begin with Alonso?

Has a player ever won the hearts of an entire community and city like Alonso did with the Mets half of New York? From the moment he put on a Mets uniform, Alonso just got it. He knew what it meant pulling on that jersey every single day. He was proud to play for the fans and for the organization.

The slugger also produced a litany of special moments. Like hitting 53 home runs in his rookie year in 2019. Representing the organization at the Home Run Derby while putting on an absolute clinic. Destroying baseballs with so much ease you couldn’t help but be impressed no matter how many times it happened. And do we even have to mention THAT moment against the Brewers?

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

WHAT NOW?

Alonso, Nimmo, and McNeil, meant a lot to Mets fans because of what they were able to do on the baseball diamond. But, more importantly, they meant the world to Mets fans because they were drafted, nurtured, and developed right here in Queens.

Homegrown players just resonate more with fans.

Therefore, you can be forgiven for still feeling a little melancholy about the fact that a true end of an era has now come to a close in Queens.

Of course, there will be plenty of fans happy that the core has been blown up. A common refrain over the last few years has been that something needed to change with the core group given the relative lack of success.

That school of thought only grew in intensity in the wake of the embarrassing collapse down the stretch in 2025, resulting in the Juan Soto-led Mets missing the playoffs. When a set of players perform that badly, it would be franchise malfeasance for significant changes not to be made.

President of baseball operations David Stearns wasn’t hired to make sentimental decisions. He was hired to bring a World Series to Queens. Therefore, he can’t be blamed for making the tough decisions. Of course, it is easy to judge him for blowing up the core right now. There’s so much work still to be done, and as of right now, it is hard to envision the 2026 Mets being better than the 2025 Mets.

Pete Alonso (20) & Brandon Nimmo (9) Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

A DIFFERENT DAWN

It is also difficult to imagine what the identity of this team will be moving forward. As already mentioned, Nimmo, Alonso, and McNeil weren’t just good ballplayers; they were the soul of this team. That’s an intangible that is a lot harder to replace than just WAR. Furthermore, given Stearns’ risk-averse approach to this offseason, it seems unlikely that a Kyle Tucker or a Cody Bellinger will end up in Queens.

Of course, it is important to see how the full picture unfolds before making any real judgments. Stearns clearly has a plan, and it is possible that he has one or two big moves up his sleeve. It is entirely feasible that the departures of the homegrown trio lead to bigger and better things.

After all, change can be good sometimes. Whether that will be the case with the 2026 New York Mets very much remains to be seen.

But change will certainly look different. And that’s something we will all have to get used to over the coming weeks and months.

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