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Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — Following their recent championship win, marking the first back-to-back titles in Major League Baseball in 25 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers have mostly downplayed their potential dominance over the offseason. They believed their existing roster was already strong enough and committed to letting the market come to them instead of aggressively pursuing new stars.
But they managed to secure new talents regardless.
Kyle Tucker, widely regarded as the top free agent available, agreed to join the Dodgers on Thursday, sources informed ESPN, just over a month after coveted closer Edwin Diaz made a similar commitment. Tucker’s contract is for four years, totaling $240 million, with opt-out clauses after the second and third years, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers.
Historically, the Dodgers rarely offer opt-outs under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. but, they made an exception for Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto two offseasons ago and did the same for Tucker, a strategic move that enabled them to outbid the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays.
At 29 on Saturday, Tucker steps in as the everyday right fielder, joining a roster filled with stars including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and Max Muncy. Tucker’s addition might lead the Dodgers to consider trading corner outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, although a source familiar with team plans suggested this isn’t a certainty. There is flexibility; Hernandez can easily transition from right field to left, while Andy Pages will retain his spot as the center fielder, and utility player Tommy Edman, recovering from ankle surgery, is firmly established as the second baseman.
The financial structure of Tucker’s deal includes $30 million in deferred payments, as confirmed by a source, which brings its present-day average annual value to a record-setting $57.1 million, surpassing Juan Soto’s $51 million AAV with the Mets. Since the Dodgers are already projected to exceed MLB’s highest luxury tax threshold in 2026, Tucker will effectively cost the team $119.9 million annually.
To balance the deferred payments, the Dodgers also provided Tucker with a $64 million signing bonus, $54 million of which will be paid upfront, according to a source.
Sources indicate that this financial planning poses no issue. Dodgers owner Mark Walter has reaped significant revenue from Ohtani’s presence over the past two years and benefits from a solid local media deal while many teams are facing declining revenues. Walter has been committed to reinvesting that money into the team, especially with a potential three-peat on the horizon and a lockout looming.
Last year, the Dodgers incurred nearly $170 million in luxury taxes, outpacing the combined total of the second- and third-place Mets and Yankees. Their competitive balance tax (CBT) payroll reached $417 million. With Tucker’s addition, they are projected to end the season with a CBT payroll slightly exceeding $400 million, according to Cot’s Contracts.
When fit, Tucker ranks as one of the most talented players in the league—a comprehensive hitter with exceptional defense and base-running abilities. Over his tenure with the Houston Astros from 2021 to 2023, he posted a .278/.353/.517 slash line, belting 89 home runs and stealing 69 bases, resulting in 16.3 Baseball Reference wins above replacement, culminating in a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.
The 2024 season was trending upward for Tucker prior to a shin fracture on June 3, boasting a .979 OPS and a developing MVP case. Following his recovery, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs, entering his final year before free agency.
In 136 games for a strong Cubs offense, Tucker recorded a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases, though he dealt with a calf strain that sidelined him for most of September. His outfield range was underwhelming for the third consecutive year, but his arm strength remained above average.
Tucker entered the offseason as one of the main attractions in a free agent class lacking standout talent.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel anticipated an 11-year, $418 million contract for Tucker, but his options were limited. in the end, only the Blue Jays appeared willing to commit long-term, and there were doubts about Tucker’s interest in playing there. The Mets made an offer in the $50 million-per-year range, but speculation existed about Tucker’s desire to play in New York. Los Angeles, offering a chance to compete without the burden of franchise-leading expectations, became his ideal destination—continuing a trend.
In recent offseasons, the Dodgers acquired Ohtani on a $700 million deal with $680 million deferred, awarded Yamamoto the largest contract for a pitcher at $325 million over 12 years, and subsequently secured Blake Snell for five years at $182 million. Now, with Tucker, they acquire their eighth player on a nine-figure deal, alongside players like Tyler Glasnow, Betts, Freeman, and Smith, not to mention Diaz, who opted for a three-year, $69 million agreement on Dec. 9, spurning the Mets.
even with entering the previous season with a vulnerable bullpen, the Dodgers clinched the World Series by effectively utilizing a lineup of starting pitchers—including Roki Sasaki, who shifted to closer late in the season. By signing Diaz, they strengthened their most significant weakness while balancing a rotation already loaded with talent. With Tucker’s signing, they addressed the need for a left-handed-hitting outfield presence. Instead of opting for a trade, they secured the best player available.
Both Diaz and Tucker signed contracts after rejecting qualifying offers, resulting in the Dodgers forfeiting their second, third, fifth, and sixth highest draft picks this summer. They will also incur doubled tax liabilities for both players. in the end, these aspects are inconsequential.
For the Dodgers, winning is what matters most.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.
