The speculation and anxiety among rival executives are warranted. A top MLB insider, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, recently predicted that the Los Angeles Dodgers will ultimately “stand in Toronto’s way” and secure the services of free-agent superstar Kyle Tucker, a move that would indeed “redraw the National League Power Map.”
This is the most aggressive public prediction yet, suggesting the two-time defending champions are ready to spend big to fill their final major offensive hole.
The Rationale: Need Meets Financial Might
The prediction that Tucker will land in Los Angeles is driven by three undeniable facts:
- Perfect Fit: Tucker is the consensus No. 1 free agent and the most ideal fit for the Dodgers’ biggest roster weakness: the outfield. The Dodgers’ outfield in 2025 had low On-Base Percentage (OBP) despite high home run totals, and Tucker’s elite plate discipline (high walk rate) and Gold Glove defense would solve both problems instantly.
- Money to Spend: The Dodgers have significant money coming off the books (around $40 million from contracts like Clayton Kershaw and Michael Conforto), giving them the immediate cash flow required for a massive deal.
- Preventing a Rival Superteam: Castrovince noted the Dodgers’ history of swooping in to win bids for players also targeted by other contenders (like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki). Landing Tucker would deny the rival Toronto Blue Jays a generational talent, weakening a major American League threat.
The Contract Wildcard
While the fit is perfect, the contract structure is the main point of contention that could still derail the deal:
- Projected Cost: Tucker’s market has been projected at 10-11 years, exceeding $400 million.
- Dodgers’ Preference: The Dodgers have historically preferred shorter-term deals with high Average Annual Value (AAV), a strategy they once pitched to Bryce Harper. If Tucker’s market softens (as some anonymous executives have suggested, projecting his deal closer to a $300 million range), it would perfectly align with the Dodgers’ preferred risk tolerance, making them the clear favorite.
If the Dodgers secure Tucker, they would finalize a lineup that features Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and now Kyle Tucker—a “full-blown juggernaut” few teams could hope to stop.
