The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their offseason with a major move, bringing in All-Star closer Edwin Díaz. But one big question still hangs over their winter plans: Do they have another blockbuster move coming? While some speculation has connected them to a possible trade for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, pitching isn’t the area with the biggest need. Their real uncertainty is in the outfield.
Teoscar Hernández has appeared in trade rumors, Kiké Hernández is no longer under contract, and Andy Pages hasn’t yet proven he can be a reliable postseason bat. That leaves L.A. exploring free-agent options – and nobody is more appealing than All-Star Kyle Tucker. But signing him comes with complications.
Dodgers Want Tucker – But Not at a Long Contract
According to reporting from Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Dodgers remain interested in Tucker, but negotiations may hit a wall over contract length.
Los Angeles showed they’re willing to sacrifice draft picks and international bonus pool money when they signed Díaz. Losing similar picks for Tucker wouldn’t be an issue. What would be an issue is offering the long-term deal Tucker is expected to command.
Rosenthal and Woo report that the Dodgers are unlikely to offer a six- or seven-year deal, which Tucker will almost certainly receive elsewhere. Instead, the team prefers a shorter contract – something like three or four years – but with a high annual salary, similar to Alex Bregman’s three-year, $120 million deal last spring.
There’s also the matter of fit. Tucker is a quieter personality, and the Dodgers already have an extremely star-heavy roster: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Blake Snell. Tucker wouldn’t be the face of the franchise in L.A., and Rosenthal and Woo suggest he may prefer a place where he could be more of a centerpiece.
The Dodgers also rarely include opt-outs in deals. To sign Tucker, they might have to break one of their usual rules.
Should the Dodgers Push All-In for Kyle Tucker?
If this turns into a pure bidding war, very few teams can go dollar-for-dollar with L.A. Tucker is a four-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and one of the most complete outfielders in baseball. He would instantly boost the Dodgers’ lineup.
But the team also has 20-year-old Josue De Paula developing quickly, and they may prefer to wait rather than committing $40 million per year to a player who has only one top-five MVP finish.
Tucker fits the Dodgers’ needs perfectly. Whether the Dodgers fit Tucker’s preferences – and contract expectations – is where things could get complicated.
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