In an offseason of change for the New York Mets, owner Steve Cohen took one lost free agent pursuit to heart.
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When outfielder Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers — after reportedly mulling offers from the Dodgers, Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays — Cohen told reporters in the Mets’ spring training camp Monday that he “actually went to bed annoyed.”
Cohen didn’t wait long to pivot to the Mets’ next target, signing free agent infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract.
“I was getting calls from agents literally five minutes later,” after news spread that Tucker chose the Dodgers. “The agent for Bo (Bichette) had called us right after, and discussions started. You never know how they’re going to go. They moved really quickly.”
The Mets will feature many new faces in 2026. Gone are closer Edwin Diaz, who signed with the Dodgers in free agency; outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who was traded to the Texas Rangers; first baseman Pete Alonso, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles; and Luisangel Acuña, who was traded to the Chicago White Sox.
In their place, the Mets acquired center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (in the Acuña trade) and second baseman Marcus Semien (in the Nimmo deal). Besides Bichette, the team also added veteran free agent Jorge Polanco to play first base, and free agent closer Devin Williams to replace Diaz.
It’s a mystery whether or not the sum of the moves will add up to a better season than 2025, when the Mets stunningly missed the playoffs on the final weekend of the regular season.
if they don’t, Cohen might not be sleeping well again.
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