The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten some positive news on their pursuit of Kyle Tucker.
Tucker is the top free agent available, and entering the offseason, it was deemed unlikely that Los Angeles would be able to sign him. However, with Tucker still on the open market, his name has been mentioned as a potential fit.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today was on Dodgers Nation and said Tucker is seen as more of a fit for the Dodgers than Bo Bichette, as the team is interested in the outfielder.
“I would think Tucker would be more (likely),” Nightengale said. “I just think there’s more of a space for him. Teoscar Hernandez is a free agent in a year. They kind of mix and match with the outfield. So I would think he’d be perfect there. If you want Bichette, do you then go and ask Betts to move back into right field? Not sure if you do that. I think he deserves respect to play where he wants right now.
“Maybe at some point, but if they sign Bichette, I think the conversation would come up, ‘hey Mookie, you interested in going back to right?’ Then just saying there for pretty much the rest of his career.”
With Tucker still on the market, the Dodgers could swoop him and hand him a short-term deal in hopes of three-peating in 2026.
Dodgers Open to Short-Term Deal for Tucker
If Tucker does sign with the Dodgers, it would be a short-term deal, as Los Angeles is unlikely to hand out another long-term deal.
The Dodgers could offer a short-term, high AAV deal as they did with Michael Conforto last offseason. The Athletic’s Katie Woo said on “Dodgers Territory” on Jan. 7 that the only way Los Angeles signs Tucker is with a short-term deal.
“A shorter-term deal is the only way Kyle Tucker is going to come to LA,” Woo said. “Now I’m not sure if that same logic applies to the Mets or the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are having a very Dodgers-esque offseason anyway. I don’t think we can rule anything out. We certainly saw that with Edwin Diaz.
“I mean, the day before the signing happened, (Dodgers executive vice president and general manager) Brandon Gomes was saying that the Dodgers felt they were really good about their bullpen and didn’t feel like they needed to make any additions. The Dodgers don’t need to make any additions in their outfield, but they certainly are capable of doing so, and that’s what makes them dangerous.”
The Dodgers will have the financial power to offer Tucker a one or two-year deal on a high AAV to entice him to re-enter free agency next season.
Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs last season.
Los Angeles Makes Intriguing Signing
The Dodgers made an intriguing signing on Friday amidst a rather quiet offseason for their standards.
Los Angeles inked veteran infielder Andy Ibanez to a one-year deal on Friday. The deal is a major league contract. Along with Ibanez, the Dodgers claimed versatile infielder Ryan Fitzgerald off waivers.
Ibanez spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Tigers. Last season, he hit .239 with 4 home runs and 21 RBIs.
Dodgers Get Positive News on Surprising Pursuit of Kyle Tucker