To put it simply: the Mets were used again.
Throughout Steve Cohen’s tenure, the organization’s financial muscle has repeatedly been leveraged by players and agents to drive up the market elsewhere. From Steven Matz walking to St. Louis in 2022, to Trevor Bauer’s last-second pivot to Los Angeles, to Yoshinobu Yamamoto using the Mets to inflate the Dodgers’ final price, the pattern has become painfully familiar.
And now, add Kyle Tucker to the list.
After two weeks of buildup, Tucker’s fate was signed, sealed, and delivered, and once again, not in Queens. Despite being viewed as potential favorites, the Mets were outbid as Tucker signed a four-year, $240 million deal, topping New York’s reported four-year, $220 million offer. Notably, the Mets’ proposal was more frontloaded, structured at $60 million, $60 million, $50 million, and $50 million with no deferrals, according to Jon Heyman.
That detail matters. This wasn’t the Mets being cheap. This wasn’t Cohen blinking. This was another reminder that money alone no longer guarantees access, especially when the Dodgers are involved.
Which leads to the uncomfortable truth: baseball, as currently constructed, is broken.
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to operate in a financial universe of their own, assembling a roster that feels less like a contender and more like an inevitability. The question is no longer whether the Mets misplayed this offseason. It’s where they go from here, and whether anyone can realistically keep pace.
A Pivot Worth Making: Freddy Peralta
If the Mets are going to respond, one logical pivot is Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.
Peralta has lingered around as a name for the Mets for months, and for good reason. David Stearns’ familiarity with the right-hander from their time in Milwaukee makes the fit obvious, and the Brewers’ track record of moving pitchers before they reach free agency only strengthens the case.
Coming off a career year in 2025, Peralta finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts across 176 innings. Even more appealing is his contract: just $8 million in 2026 before free agency. For a Mets rotation that was ravaged by injuries last season, Peralta represents exactly what they lacked: durability and reliability. He has surpassed 165 innings and made 30-plus starts in each of the last three seasons.
Peralta is set to hit free agency in 2026, but can instantly agree to a long-term contract in New York if traded.
The Outfield Problem Isn’t Going Away
The Mets’ outfield picture, however, remains a glaring issue.
As things stand, Juan Soto, Jared Young, and Tyrone Taylor headline the group. Tucker would have instantly balanced the lineup and solidified the defense. With that option gone, the Mets must scramble for alternatives, even if none come close to replicating his impact.
Cody Bellinger remains the most obvious free agent. The Yankees are still believed to be the favorites to retain him, but with Tucker off the board, the Mets could easily redirect their offer. While Bellinger isn’t the MVP-caliber hitter he once was, his positional flexibility and defensive value would help stabilize the roster.
The trade market offers slimmer pickings. Boston is expected to demand a significant return for Jarren Duran. Lars Nootbaar remains an intriguing option in St. Louis, while Brenton Doyle and Jake Meyers profile more as depth than difference-makers.
None are ideal. But standing still isn’t an option.
So… Who’s Stopping the Dodgers?
Here’s the larger issue: who, exactly, is competing with the Dodgers?
They boast a lineup anchored by Shohei Ohtani, flanked by future Hall of Famers in Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, now joined by Kyle Tucker. Will Smith remains one of the best catchers in baseball. Their rotation is loaded. Their bullpen is elite. They even pried Edwin Díaz away from the Mets this offseason.
Whether it’s the Mets, Phillies, Yankees, Mariners, or Blue Jays, the gap feels overwhelming.
A lockout looms in 2027, but even that feels like a temporary pause rather than a solution. The Dodgers will still have the sport’s best player, unmatched depth, and ownership willing to flex whenever necessary.
Some fans may ask why anyone should bother watching baseball next season.
The answer, frustrating as it may be, is that chaos still exists. October still is the most unexpected month in all of sports. And the Mets, despite being burned again, have no choice but to adapt.
Top Image Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
