What the Mets won’t offer in contract length, they’re more than making up for in just how much they are willing to pay Kyle Tucker in a short span.
The Mets’ staggering $50 million per-year offer to the star free-agent outfielder is over four seasons, The Post’s Mike Puma confirmed.
It’s unknown whether there are opt-out clauses in the contract offer, and The Post reported that a decision could come as soon as Thursday.
The Blue Jays reportedly have offered the longest offer, “potentially” up to 10 years, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, while the Dodgers are also in the mix.
The Mets seemingly offering Tucker $200 million shows that the team is using its financial might to try to land the soon-to-be 29-year-old while avoiding the back years of a lengthy contract.
A $50 million AAV would rank third in baseball, behind only two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million and potential Mets teammate Juan Soto’s $51 million.
Tucker, who has never finished higher than fifth in an MVP voting, would be making $10 million more per season than three-time MVP Aaron Judge.
That type of offer is one that can make a player forego a potential 10-year offer since it provides the opportunity to make more in the long run.
Pete Alonso took a deal with a one-year opt-out last season in a bet on himself and ultimately made more — $185 million — when combining his Mets deal ($30 million) and Orioles contract ($155 million) than he would have last offseason or in years past had he signed a lengthier pact.
Tucker, should he sign a four-year pact, would hit the market after his age-32 season, and free agency has not been kind to players on the back-nine of their careers.
The Post’s Jon Heyman raised questions in a recent column regarding whether signing Tucker, for all his positives, to such a huge deal makes sense considering the team’s roster construction and needs.
