Kyle Tucker Is Getting Paid by the Dodgers and Trashed By Everyone Else
Yes, this is going to sound like sour grapes, coping over the fact that the Chicago Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker and then let him walk in free agency after one year, but despite his previous success I’m simply not all that upset over his loss. It’ll be tough to replace his production, especially when he’s been healthy, but I haven’t seen a top free agent have his reputation come into question as much as Tucker’s has this offseason maybe ever.
I don’t blame Tucker for signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract. That’s a $60 million average annual value. ESPN’s Jeff Passan breaks down the contract, which includes opt outs after years two and three. Also, despite $30 million in deferrals, Tucker’s present value AAV does set a new record in MLB at $57.1 million.
According to several reports, the Toronto Blue Jays stood alone in offering Tucker a long-term deal, while the New York Mets finished runner-up, being left at the alter after their four-year, $220 million proposal was rejected.
Meanwhile, the Cubs at no point made any effort to re-sign Tucker this offseason and there was even a report from Bruce Levine, who said the team was much more interested in a reunion with Cody Bellinger than to bring back Tucker.
That takes us to rumors that have been not so nice about Tucker this offseason. Who knows, maybe they’re simply plants by agents, to make their clients looks better, or by teams to help shape public opinion and make fans feel less bad about not signing Tucker, but these were rough.
Both national and in Chicago, Tucker’s reputation, his desire and passion for baseball has been taken to task.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the following back in December on the “Pinstripe Post” podcast.
“It’s one of the questions I wonder about Kyle Tucker,” said Sherman. “Does Tucker burn to play? I know Cody Bellinger burns to play. I think there are some questions about the motor and the desire of someone like Tucker. That’s something organizations have expressed to me.”
Tucker only played one season with the Cubs. His 2025 campaign began with three incredible months of production, resulting in a top-5 numbers among all MLB players. Then, a few injuries derailed Tucker’s time with the Cubs. A fractured finger forced Tucker to change his mechanics at the plate and not only did his numbers decline, Tucker turned into one of the worst hitters in the game for a month.
In September, Tucker suffered a calf strain that sidelined him for three weeks. The All-Star outfielder played in 136 games for the Cubs and posted a 4.5 fWAR. In 2024, Tucker played in 78 games for the Astros, missing most of the year because of a shin fracture.
Maybe Sherman was used as a pawn by the Yankees to diminish Tucker’s value as the once Evil Empire is no longer the team that throws a blank check to top free agents, but he wasn’t the only media person to talk about Tucker’s passion.
This one stuck out. You don’t want to be compared to Anthony Rendon, who pretty much phoned it in after signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles.
Evan Altman, the EIC for Cubs Insider, has heard similar things about Tucker.
Ultimately, Tucker’s performance will do the talking. He doesn’t have to be the leader with the Dodgers and that’s fine. He doesn’t have the best player on the team, the singular star with all the pressure of a big contract on his back. It’s not a knock on him or anyone else that have similar personalities. Every single player won’t have the same level of passion or fire, dedication and that’s OK, especially when you’re the Dodgers and you have a hoard of talented baseball players up and down your roster.
Yet, as often as I’ve criticized the Cubs for not spending on star free agents, I can’t fake being mad about this. Kyle Tucker’s time with the Cubs was at some times amazing, other times fine, but for a player who you brought in to be a star, there sure were a lot of question marks around him by the end of his tenure.
I’m not happy Tucker is signing with the Dodgers, but I’m not all that upset that the Cubs didn’t try to bring him back either.