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*PREDICTION*
All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker is easily the biggest fish available on the open market this year in baseball free agency, and it could see him land a massive contract. Tucker is expected to net at least a 10-year contract on the market in free agency, which would give him long-term security moving forward.
However, there are teams unwilling to hand out large contracts like this, and it could impact his free agency. Tucker is coming off a strong first season with the Chicago Cubs, but the veteran isn’t expected to return to the Windy City.
Last season with the Cubs, Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 runs batted in, appearing in 136 games for the Cubs. Tucker also stole 25 bases this season, marking the third time in four years that he had at least hit that mark.
The outfielder is also very strong defensively, and many organizations across the league would be helping themselves in multiple ways if they signed him. Tucker is just a well-rounded player, and he could drastically change any team that he would join.
But where the veteran may ultimately sign remains a mystery. The veteran could be worth a large deal, but teams have been more careful about spending in recent offseasons.
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As Tucker looks around the market, there aren’t too many teams left that may be willing to pay him what he wants. Due to this, it could cause him to take a shorter-term deal, which would have him making more money each individual season.
If this situation were to arise, a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers could swoop in to land the All-Star outfielder. Los Angeles has been heavily linked to Tucker all winter, but until now, it has seemed like he may be a little too high a price.
The Dodgers aren’t the biggest fans of handing out long contracts to players, unless they deem them as generational talents. But if they could add Tucker to the team on a four or five-year contract with a heavy AAV (average annual value), it would make a lot of sense.
Los Angeles has been in the market to add another outfielder this offseason after seeing a ton of inconsistency from the position last year. Tucker could slide into the middle of the lineup to give this team even more of a boost as they try to go after a three-peat next season.
If Tucker were to land with the Dodgers, it would be met with a lot of frustration from other fanbases, but the team does need help at his position. And if Los Angeles were to land him on a shorter deal, other teams would also have the chance to sign him.
All in all, it’s not as likely for Tucker to come to Los Angeles, unless his market continues to be underwhelming in terms of a 10-year-plus contract offer. But the Dodgers have been patiently awaiting to see how the All-Star market shakes out, and this team will strike if they sense he can become available at a price they are comfortable giving out.