Dodgers sign star outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four year $240 million contract with an opt out after years two and three

Like clockwork, the Dodgers have handed out a contract worth hundreds of millions to sign one of the premier free agents.

This time, the team signed four-time all-star outfielder Kyle Tucker to a 4 year, $240 million contract, with an opt-out after years two and three and around $30 million deferred. Tucker, who turns 29 tomorrow, spent 2018-2024 with the Houston Astros, where he won a World Series with the club in 2022 before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for 2025.

This past season, Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, an .841 OPS, 143 OPS+ and a 4.5 fWAR in 136 games with Chicago. Since 2021, Tucker has averaged 27 home runs, 87 RBIs and a 4.7 fWAR a season along with a .277/.364/.878 slash line along a .878 OPS and 145 OPS+ across the past five seasons.

Despite his performance, Tucker has had some injury struggles the past two season as in 2025, he played through a hairline fracture in his right hand he suffered in June before spending three-plus weeks on the injured list in September with a left calf strain. In 2024, he posted a .993 OPS, but only played in 78 games due to a shin fracture he suffered in June.

Breaking: Kyle Tucker is signing with the Dodgers, per @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/THEES0K2gg

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 16, 2026

Tucker’s contract is now the eighth Dodgers contract worth at least $100 million, the most for any team, joining: DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani, LHP Blake Snell, RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SS/OF Mookie Betts, 1B Freddie Freeman and C Will Smith. The Blue Jays, Phillies and Padres are tied for the second most, with six contracts of at least $100 million.

While the Dodgers have yet to finalize contracts with players who have yet to reach the arbitration stage, their luxury tax payroll is $395 million, which will put the Dodgers above the fourth threshold for the third consecutive season. Earlier in the offseason, the Dodgers signed closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract.

The average annual value for Tucker’s contract is a record setting $60 million, surpassing Juan Soto’s $51 million AAV from his contract he signed with the Mets in Dec. 2024.

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Tucker is projected to bat either fourth or fifth in the lineup, behind Betts, Freeman and Ohtani and possibly Smith. He’ll be joining Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages in the outfield with Alex Call projected to be the team’s fourth outfielder.

Pitchers and catchers for the Dodgers are scheduled to report for Spring Training on Febuary 13.