Morning Briefing: Kyle Tucker Watch Continues
Good morning, Mets fans! An MMO poll found that two out of three Mets fans agree on something.
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
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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.
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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.
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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).
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