The Los Angeles Dodgers will continue to be viewed as the team that’s “ruining baseball” after securing the signature of the offseason’s most coveted MLB free agent, Kyle Tucker, in a massive multimillion-dollar deal that makes them even bigger favorites to repeat as World Series champions in 2026.
Kyle Tucker’s contract with the Dodgers
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN (who broke the story Thursday night, January 15, 2026), the prized MLB free agent has agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract. The deal includes player opt-outs after the second and third seasons (following 2027 and 2028), per multiple sources.
Tucker turns 29 on Saturday (January 17, 2026) and was the consensus top bat in MLB free agency. He joins what was already a superstar-laden Dodgers superteam, perfectly suited to his skill set-pairing him with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and the rest in a lineup that’s now one of the most feared in Major League Baseball.
When healthy, Kyle Tucker is one of the most dangerous left-handed hitters in MLB, combining elite power, on-base ability, speed, and defensive value. However, his last two seasons-including 2025 with the Chicago Cubs-were hampered by injuries: a hairline fracture in his right hand suffered in June and a left calf strain that landed him on the injured list (IL) in September, limiting him late in the season.
With the Cubs, Tucker started strong, posting a .280 batting average and 17 home runs in the first half, earning his fourth MLB All-Star selection. He finished the season with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and an .841 OPS (.266/.377/.464 slash line) over 136 games.
After the hand injury, his offensive production dipped noticeably (.218 in July, .244 in August), with a spike in ground-ball rate during recovery. He also served as Chicago’s primary designated hitter in the postseason, hitting .259 with one home run in the NLDS loss to Milwaukee.
The Cubs extended Tucker a qualifying offer of $22.025 million for 2026, which he declined before the November 18 deadline. As a result, Chicago will receive a compensatory draft pick after Competitive Balance Round B in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Defensively, 2025 was not his peak season, but the former Gold Glove winner remains a reliable corner outfielder with plus arm strength. His baserunning value remains elite, averaging more than 20 stolen bases per season over the last five years.
Originally acquired via trade from the Houston Astros, Tucker isn’t known as a vocal clubhouse leader but has consistently fit seamlessly into winning environments-and now appears poised to thrive in the Dodgers’ championship culture.
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