The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series to defend the title they won last season, after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. However, while they wait to find out who their opponent will be – either the Seattle Mariners or the Toronto Blue Jays – their front office is already planning moves for next offseason.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Dodgers are eyeing star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who will become one of the most coveted free agents of the winter after the World Series.
The Dodger pattern: invest to stay on top
The news comes as no surprise to anyone. The Dodgers have established themselves as the most economically powerful organization and attractive to the big names in baseball. In the 2023-24 offseason, they signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two of the most impactful signings in recent MLB history.
Although they lost the race for Juan Soto, the team invested aggressively in players such as Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott, reinforcing both the rotation and the bullpen. However, production in the outfield has been one of the few weaknesses of the Los Angeles Angels.
A gap in the gardens that Tucker could fill
With Andy Pages established in center field, the Dodgers have seen Teoscar Hernandez’s performance drop from the previous year, and the experiment with Michael Conforto was a failure. With Conforto returning to free agency, the stage is set for four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker to fill that spot.
Tucker, 28, has maintained an offensive line of .277/.365/.514 since 2021, establishing himself as one of the most consistent hitters in MLB. This year, after his stint with the Cubs, he posted 17 home runs in 83 games through June, although injuries affected his second half of the season.
A high price, but affordable for the Dodgers
Heyman reports that, despite his statistical slump in recent months, Tucker’s contract could be worth around $300 million, with the possibility of reaching $400 million depending on market interest.
Few teams would be willing to shell out that figure, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are an exception. Their current payroll of $395 million will drop to around $329 million next year without additions, leaving them plenty of room for another elite signing.
Other interested teams: Cubs, Red Sox, Phillies and Giants
The Cubs could try to get Tucker back, although their spending history suggests otherwise: they have never exceeded $184 million in a contract (Jason Heyward’s in 2015). The Red Sox, Phillies and Giants are also possible suitors, but none seem as well positioned as the Dodgers.
If the Ohtani-Yamamoto era has made one thing clear, it’s that Los Angeles remains the dream destination for superstars. And Kyle Tucker could be the next to wear blue.
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