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Former New York Mets general manager Jim Duquette<\/strong> recently added fuel to the offseason rumor mill, following up on a statement about which teams are aggressively pursuing free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker.<\/p>\n Duquette had previously identified the Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays as the top suitors for Tucker, but when asked whether it\u2019s possible for \u201cthey\u201d to land both Tucker and Cody Bellinger,\u201d<\/strong> his response left fans and analysts buzzing.<\/p>\n \u201cYea it\u2019s definitely possible,\u201d<\/strong> Duquette tweeted on January 7, 2026, sparking widespread speculation about which team he meant, and whether the Mets could realistically pull off such a move.<\/p>\n The statement was vague, leaving the door open for interpretation. While it\u2019s been assumed that \u201cthey\u201d referred to the Mets, there\u2019s no confirmation, and the Blue Jays are almost certainly out of the running for both players.<\/strong> The Dodgers could, theoretically, make it happen, but it seems far-fetched.<\/p>\n The ambiguity of Duquette\u2019s remark means that fans shouldn\u2019t rush to make offseason assumptions or buy season tickets just yet. Even imagining one team signing both left-handed sluggers feels like a scenario straight out of Wonderland.<\/p>\n Could the Mets realistically sign both Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger<\/strong>? From a practical standpoint, the answer is complicated. Buster Olney has cautioned against betting on such a scenario, and the Mets\u2019 offseason approach so far does not indicate a willingness to go all-in on two major outfield signings simultaneously.<\/p>\n Playing time would also present a challenge. An outfield stacked with Tucker, Bellinger, and Juan Soto<\/strong>, all left-handed hitters, would create lineup complications. Bellinger would likely need to spend extended time at first base or in a utility role to accommodate Tucker and Soto, which limits defensive flexibility.<\/p>\n While having both would be a boon offensively, it could introduce strategic constraints. Bellinger, for instance, excels against left-handed pitching, hitting .353 with a 1.016 OPS last season, but his defensive versatility might be underutilized if he\u2019s forced into a less natural role.<\/p>\n Duquette\u2019s comment is not a guarantee, nor does it suggest that the Mets would absolutely pursue both players<\/strong>. Unlike discussions around Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez, this remains purely hypothetical, leaving fans and analysts to wonder whether the Mets could defy expectations in true Steve Cohen fashion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Adding both would also not address the Mets\u2019 most pressing needs. The starting rotation, which struggled in the latter part of 2025, remains a priority, and the bullpen could also use reinforcement. Spending heavily on Tucker and Bellinger without strengthening pitching would leave the roster unbalanced.<\/p>\n Ultimately, while the idea of landing both sluggers<\/strong> is tantalizing, it is more realistic to expect the Mets to secure at least one of the two, with follow-up moves focused on improving the rotation and pitching depth to complement the lineup.<\/p>\n Even one of Tucker or Bellinger would be a significant addition for the Mets, but pairing them together would be an offseason blockbuster unlike any seen in recent memory\u2014a bold, high-risk, high-reward scenario.<\/p>\n The offseason narrative for New York remains fluid. Analysts will be watching every move closely, weighing payroll flexibility, positional fit, and long-term roster construction as the Mets attempt to compete in the NL East.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former New York Mets general manager Jim Duquette recently added fuel to the offseason rumor mill, following up on a statement about which teams are aggressively pursuing… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":136439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Jim](\"https:\/\/nephcure.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Jim-Duquette-Headshot.jpg\")
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