Kyle Tucker hammered the Mets, then said nice things about them.
The slumping slugger, whom the Mets went after in free agency, homered and had two hits in the Dodgers’ 4-2 win at Citi Field on Friday night.
“They’re great people over there. I had [Troy Snitker], their hitting coach, when I was in Houston. A few familiar faces over there,” Tucker said when asked about the Mets’ pursuit in the winter. “I think they have some really good players. Hasn’t necessarily worked out how they had hoped or wanted to have the season go, but it kind of happens sometimes.
“It’s always a tough decision, trying to figure out where to go. I just felt comfortable coming out to LA. Everything’s been great since.”
Tucker wound up signing a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers, $20 million more than the Mets offered.
Early on, he hasn’t been worth the money. He was dropped in the batting order to seventh in the series opener, and has a slash line of .240/.333/.371 with a pedestrian .704 OPS.
He has only eight homers after averaging 26.8 over the previous five seasons.
Posturing or an indication the Mets are planning to keep their catchers?
In his press conference Friday, president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked about Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens being involved in potential trades.
“Without commenting on any specific player or approach to any specific player, catching is really important,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to have two really good ones.”
noti.group’s Jon Heyman has reported that the Mets are willing to move the 24-year-old Alvarez for the right price. Alvarez and Torrens are under team control beyond this season.
Ahead of his Hall of Fame induction this weekend, Carlos Beltrán revealed that Mets officials talked to him about managing the team after firing Carlos Mendoza, but he declined the opportunity. Stearns didn’t add much on the talks that two sides had.
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“I love having Carlos as a special assistant, he does a great job,” Stearns said. “I’m really excited for him and his family about what they’re about to experience this weekend. It’s very well-deserved.”
Beltrán has served as a Mets special assistant for the last four seasons.
Former Mets closer Edwin Díaz missed his new team’s return to his old home. He is on a rehabilitation assignment after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right throwing elbow in April. … Carson Benge became the first Mets rookie outfielder with two assists since Juan Lagares in 2013. … Actress Emma Stone was in the Mets dugout during batting practice to film a scene for her new movie, “The Catch.” It looks like Juan Soto has a cameo in the film.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
