The Los Angeles Dodgers made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason, signing outfielder Kyle Tucker to a massive four-year, $240 million contract, making him the highest-paid player for the 2026 regular season. Jeff Passan believes Tucker will be worth the price.
The ESPN analyst and top MLB insider predicted the outfielder would have the best year of his career in his debut campaign with the Dodgers. Passan offered analysis for all 30 teams in his season preview piece on ESPN, with Tucker getting a shoutout in the “It wouldn’t surprise me if…” segment.
“In the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup and in a place where he can blend into the background, Tucker is in a setup ideal for his success,” Passan wrote. It’s a bold claim for a player who had multiple outstanding seasons with the Houston Astros. Exceeding what he’s done up to this point would likely put Tucker in the National League MVP discussion, along with teammate Shohei Ohtani and fellow pricey free agent Juan Soto. It would be huge for a Dodgers squad looking for a third straight World Series title.
Jeff Passan Predicts Best Season of Kyle Tucker’s Career in First Year with Dodgers
Tucker is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him slash .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He put up a 136 wRC+ in his lone year with the Chicago Cubs. Tucker managed those strong numbers while dealing with a fracture in his hand. He also missed time with a calf strain. Tucker earned his fourth consecutive All-Star selection this past year. He also picked up his second Silver Slugger award.
The 29-year-old Tucker has several standout campaigns on the ledger, but the crown jewel is probably 2023. The outfielder finished just one home run short of a 30/30 season. He slashed .284/.369/.517 across a career-high 157 games. Tucker notched a 139 wRC+ and led the American League with 112 RBI. Ohtani earned the AL MVP nod that season with an absurd 44-homer, 3.14-ERA campaign. It’s the type of dual-threat effort that makes him so tough to beat for the award. Tucker finished fifth in MVP voting.
By Baseball Reference‘s WAR calculations, 2022 actually has a case to be Tucker’s best year. He put up 5.5 bWAR, matching his 2023 mark. Tucker launched a career-best 30 home runs that season, to go with 25 steals. His batting average slipped to .257, mostly due to an uncharacteristically low .261 batting average on balls in play. From an all-around perspective, the 2022 season has a case given its Tucker’s lone year with a Gold Glove.
Where Will Kyle Tucker Bat in the Lineup?
The Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches up and down the lineup. There’s really no wrong order to put these guys in, but manager Dave Roberts will be tasked with figuring out the optimal combination. RosterResource has Tucker in the No. 2 spot, behind Ohtani. That’s where he hit in his most recent Spring Training appearance.
Tucker has appeared at every lineup spot in his career, but he’s generally been in the middle of the order. The outfielder has hit fifth in 187 games, his most common lineup spot. The two-hole is second on the list, at 153 games. Tucker has hit third in 114 contests.
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