{"id":111739,"date":"2026-01-06T23:49:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111739"},"modified":"2026-01-06T23:50:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T04:50:08","slug":"star-free-agent-cody-bellinger-gaining-edge-with-mets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/06\/star-free-agent-cody-bellinger-gaining-edge-with-mets\/","title":{"rendered":"One Star Free Agent is Gaining an Edge with the Mets, Plus More Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"

January is typically a quiet month for baseball news and transactions, but this offseason\u2019s slow pace has stood out. Teams across MLB are showing increased reluctance to meet initial asking prices, instead waiting for markets to settle at figures they deem more reasonable. That patience has slowed movement at the top of the market, even as high-end talent remains available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The New York Mets have embodied that approach. Despite Steve Cohen\u2019s financial flexibility, the front office under President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has shown a willingness to wait rather than overextend, allowing the market to come to them. As a result, several star free agents \u2014 including Kyle Tucker<\/a>, Cody Bellinger<\/a>, and Alex Bregman<\/a> (who has been working out with Mark Vientos<\/a> in Arizona) remain unsigned, along with several notable pitchers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
Oct 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game two of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Latest Mets Free Agent Rumblings as 2026 Begins<\/h2>\n

Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger?<\/h3>\n

We are beginning to get a clearer picture of the Mets\u2019 thinking. According to MLB.com\u2019s Mark Feinsand, the club prefers Bellinger over Tucker. Tucker, the consensus top free agent in this offseason class, was once expected to command a long-term deal with a massive annual average value (AAV), but he may now have to settle for a shorter-term contract \u2014 albeit still at a high AAV. That does not mean the Mets will ultimately land Bellinger \u2014 or Tucker, for that matter \u2014 but it helps explain their preference. Bellinger has already proven he can thrive under the pressure cooker that is New York, a trait the organization values highly (Clay Holmes<\/a> and Luke Weaver<\/a>, with Devin Williams<\/a> as the exception).<\/span><\/p>\n

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What we know about Kyle Tucker’s market, and what we should expect https:\/\/t.co\/264SbqPkV5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n