Outfielder Kyle Tucker was one of the premier free agents this winter, with teams being interested in landing the four-time All-Star. While the market saw teams show varying levels of interest, the Los Angeles Dodgers have stormed in and landed him. Let’s take a closer look at the contract details and what this means going forward.
Kyle Tucker Signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers
The back-to-back World Series Champions have gotten even better this offseason as they have reportedly signed outfielder Kyle Tucker. Fansided’s Robert Murray is reporting that the deal is four years for $240 million and includes an opt-out after the second and third seasons. The $60 million average annual value of this contract is second in MLB, only behind new teammate Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million AAV. He was reportedly offered a $50 million AAV by the New York Mets, but ultimately chose the Dodgers’ offer instead.
Tucker has shown the ability to be a star in the outfield as the soon-to-be 29-year-old has a career .865 OPS in his eight seasons between the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. He played in 136 games last season and finished with a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 22 homers, 73 RBI, 25 stolen bases, and an 87:88 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
This is going to make the Dodgers even better as they now have a lineup with Tucker, Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. It is going to be extremely difficult to pitch to this lineup, but the short-term contract with a high AAV made this work. Will this move allow the Dodgers to win three straight World Series titles as the pressure of being elite is on the shoulders of Tucker?
