NY Mets’ $50 million AAV offer to Kyle Tucker disproves a David Stearns label

The narrative all offseason has been that David Stearns has been prioritizing financial restraint over big splashes as he reshapes the New York Mets' roster. That's why he let Pete Alonso walk away without much of a fight, why he's been slow to add a top-of-the-rotation arm, and why he's plundered struggling relievers from the New York Yankees over breaking the bank for first-tier options.

Just about a month ago, when trade talks with the San Diego Padres were supposedly hot and heavy, it was speculated that the Mets would target several cheaper alternatives residing on San Diego's roster  — Ramon Laureano over Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, Nick Pivetta over Framber Valdez  — in an effort to build a unit that was greater than the sum of its parts.

Stearns doesn't sign stars, fans decried, as it seemed apparent that last winter's Juan Soto signing was a Steve Cohen-fueled exception that proves the rule.

Now those expectations have been blown out of the water with the news that the Mets have a $50 million AAV offer out for Kyle Tucker, proving that the club will still pony up if a player is truly worth it.

The Mets' $50 million AAV offer to Kyle Tucker disproves the David Stearns doesn't sign stars narrative

It's hard to say a guy doesn't spend when he's putting $50 million annually on the table for a star outfielder, but that's exactly where we are with Stearns and Tucker.

That isn't to say there aren't some caveats. First, if this were a long-term deal, it would already be in the bag. The Mets are offering such a high annual salary because they aren't giving the former Chicago Cub the decade-long commitment he desires. If they had, the contract would already be signed, sealed, and delivered.

Here's the other important thing to remember: this free-agent class is pretty weak overall. For as good as Tucker is, he's had injury concerns in recent years that make giving him a long-term deal a risk. Other top free agents like Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Schwarber all come with a variety of concerns, whether it be exit velocity issues, aging curves, poor defense, or the inability to play the field. The drop off after the top tier is also pretty steep.

The same holds true on the pitching side. Dylan Cease landed a big deal, but his performance has been erratic, alternating between Cy Young-caliber campaigns and borderline below-average showings. Framber Valdez has looked the part in the past, but clubhouse issues and a poor second-half performance held him back. Other hurlers like Ranger Suarez and Michael King are solid No. 2s and not true aces.

On top of everything else, a potential labor stoppage in 2027 is creating a lot of uncertainty and depressing the market overall.

However, Stearns is showing with Tucker that if he finds a player to be worth it, he's willing to extend himself. The Mets' original offer was thought to be for three years, but now it seems as if they've tacked on a fourth. That's not something a guy who doesn't want to spend would do.

For Tucker, this might all work out for the best as well. Alonso and Bregman are the test cases, and in both instances, settling for the pillow contract last year and opting out resulted in greater earnings overall than any long-term offers they previously had on the table.

We're not at the Tucker finish line yet, but Stearns has broken the narrative and made a compelling case as to why the four-time All-Star should choose Queens as his new neighborhood. Moral victories don't matter much, but with these latest developments, you can't say definitively that the Mets can't land this plane.