Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Veteran outfielder Kyle Tucker is easily the biggest name available on the free agent market in baseball this offseason. Tucker is coming off his lone season with the Chicago Cubs, and now he will be looking to cash in on the open market.
Tucker is expected to land at least a 10-year deal in free agency, giving him long-term security on his next deal. The outfielder has more than earned this right, and he has been one of the more well-rounded stars in the game for a few years.
Due to the type of contract that Tucker is likely to net, there may only be a few teams that seriously pursue him in free agency. Most teams can’t afford to sign players to these massive long-term deals, so this limits the overall market that he will have.
But Tucker has been a solid enough player to be among the guys who receive these contracts, and he could be a real steal for any club. Last season with the Cubs, Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 runs batted in, appearing in 136 games for Chicago.
In addition, Tucker stole 25 bases this season, marking the third time in four years that he had at least hit that number. The veteran is also a very strong defender, so he will offer any team the ability to improve the outfield defense by landing him.
The Cubs would love to bring Tucker back, but there have been rumors going around that Chicago doesn’t want to pay what it will take to retain him. If this is true, Tucker will explore other opportunities, and there will be a team that gives the All-Star the type of contract that he deserves.
Tucker dealt with some injuries this past season, but when he is healthy, he remains a player who can produce at a very high level for his team. It remains to be seen where he will ultimately sign this offseason, but Tucker can be a player who can completely change a franchise for the better.
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Kyle Tucker Comes to the New York Mets
As Tucker sorts everything out for himself, the New York Mets could be a solid option. New York has the money to spend that would bring him to town, and the team is in need of another outfielder moving forward.
The Mets missed the playoffs this past season, despite the team having one of the largest payrolls in the entire league. New York has to make some big changes to the roster, and allocating money to land the All-Star could be the way to go.
After the Mets signed Juan Soto last offseason, the team is now in win-now mode every single season, so adding Tucker could help things. Pairing Tucker and Soto would give this team a legitimate duo going forward, and he could help replace the offensive production lost if infielder Pete Alonso were to depart in free agency, which many people now expect to happen.
The Mets need more players like Tucker, who can help them on both sides of the field. Overall, New York could look to make another splash as it searches for a way to get over the hump in terms of winning a World Series next season.