LOS ANGELES -- When it comes to the best talent available in free agency, never count out the Dodgers. Especially when they're stocking up for a three-peat bid.
The Dodgers and outfielder Kyle Tucker are in agreement on a four-year, $240 million contract, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Thursday night. The club has not confirmed the deal, which includes an opt-out after the second and third years, a $64 million signing bonus and $30 million deferred, according to multiple reports.
Tucker, who turns 29 on Saturday, was considered the consensus top free agent this offseason. He turned down a qualifying offer from the Cubs, meaning they will receive a compensatory Draft pick. The Dodgers will lose their third- and sixth-highest selections in the upcoming Draft after already losing their second- and fifth-highest picks and $1 million from their international bonus pool as a penalty for signing closer Edwin Díaz earlier in the offseason.
It's a steep price to pay, but the Dodgers recognize the need to act when they get the opportunity to bring elite talent into the fold. Just as they acted decisively by bringing in Díaz, the back-to-back World Series champions addressed their biggest remaining need in grand fashion.
Here's a projected full-strength Dodgers lineup including Tucker:
DH Shohei Ohtani
SS Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
C Will Smith
RF Kyle Tucker
LF Teoscar Hernández
3B Max Muncy
CF Andy Pages
2B Tommy Edman
One of the game’s most complete offensive threats, the outfielder combines elite plate discipline with strong contact skills and plus power, as well as enough baserunning savvy to make an impact with his legs, too, even though he’s not particularly speedy.
Since 2020, Tucker’s first year as a big league regular, he ranks ninth in the Majors with a 143 OPS+ (minimum 500 games played). He was also one of six players to record at least 100 home runs, 100 stolen bases and 300 walks in that span and did so with the second-lowest strikeout rate (15.4%) of anyone in the group. Only 10 position players have produced more WAR (per FanGraphs) than Tucker’s 25.2 over the past six years.
Selected fifth overall by the Astros in the 2015 MLB Draft out of Tampa’s H.B. Plant High School, Tucker spent his first eight years with Houston before being traded to the Cubs in December 2024. His emergence was key in helping the Astros remain on a winning track after losing a number of high-profile players in free agency. He made three All-Star teams during his time with the club and won a World Series title in 2022.
Traded to Chicago for his final year before free agency, Tucker raced out to an impressive start with his new team, slashing .291/.396/.537 with 17 homers over his first 82 games. He earned his fourth straight All-Star selection as a result, earning one of the National League’s starting outfield slots in the fan vote.
However, Tucker went through a prolonged slump in July and August while playing through a hairline fracture in his right ring finger, an injury he suffered on June 1. Just when he seemed to be turning a corner, he sustained a left calf strain that knocked him out for much of September and limited him to DH duty during the Cubs’ playoff run, which stalled out against the Brewers in the NLDS.
It was somewhat reminiscent of the previous year, when an injury spoiled what was shaping up to be his best season. Tucker fouled a ball off his right shin on June 3 and ended up missing more than three months. Before going on the IL, he was tied for second in the Majors with 19 homers and ranked fifth among qualifiers with a .979 OPS.
The Dodgers were looking to add an outfielder this offseason, and Tucker should take over in right, shifting Teoscar Hernández to left while keeping Andy Pages in center. Tucker did not grade out as an elite right fielder with -2 outs above average last year, but he should be an improvement over Hernández, who was worth -9 OAA, fourth-worst among qualified right fielders.
Offensively, the Dodgers' outfielders performed decently in 2025, but there were some clear weak points. They got on base at a .299 clip (26th in MLB) and struck out at a 23.7% clip (20th). Tucker should help lift the position group in both regards, as he walked (87 times) nearly as often as he struck out (88) last season. He had a .377 on-base percentage and a strikeout rate of 14.7%, which ranked in the 85th percentile among qualified Major Leaguers.
Adding Tucker comes with steep penalties, even without factoring in his high price tag. Committing to him is a decision that the Dodgers did not make lightly. But they are not afraid to spend when it comes to talent that they believe can push them over the edge, and Tucker is exactly that.