This simply can’t happen.
With the Philadelphia Phillies being part of the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers have always been a daunting obstacle for any contending team to face. The juggernauts of the NL West have been perennial contenders dating back to 2013. With the way that their roster has been built with stars in recent years, that dominance is likely to continue.
The Phillies got a firsthand taste of that dominance this past postseason when they faced the Dodgers in the NLDS. Unfortunately, it has left a sour taste in their mouths as they were dispatched in four games, including a heartbreaking game-ending play in Game 4.
However, if MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince’s bold offseason prediction ends up coming true, Phillies fans could end up hating the Dodgers even more. In his list of bold (but plausible) Hot Stove predictions, star outfielder Kyle Tucker signs with Los Angeles as the rich get richer.
Dodgers adding Kyle Tucker would be an absolute nightmare for Phillies and rest of NL
Tucker going to the Dodgers would be devastating news for the Phillies in their quest for the World Series. It’s already bad enough that the Dodgers have a starting rotation full of aces with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Roki Sasaki. On top of that, teams have to contend with a lineup that consists of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, and Will Smith.
So to add Tucker, a legitimate five-tool talent who can hit, field, and run to an already potent Dodgers offense would cause nightmares for the Phillies and the rest of the NL. For his eight-year MLB career, the 28-year-old budding star has hit .273 with an .865 OPS, averaging 96 runs scored, 34 doubles, 31 home runs, 103 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases per season over a 162-game schedule pace.
Not to be outdone, on the defensive side of things, Tucker sports an elite .989 fielding percentage with 37 outfield assists and 36 defensive runs saved while flashing the leather. He has one Gold Glove, two Silver Slugger Awards and four All-Star appearances under his belt in his young career. Turning 29 before Opening Day, as Tucker matures into his prime years, there’s no doubt he will be challenging for MVP honors.
The Phillies should do all they can to try to steal Tucker away from the Dodgers or from any other team and make him one of their own. That way, not only would it finally solve their outfield problem and significantly upgrade the team both offensively and defensively, but it would also prevent any potential NL contenders from reeling in the star talent.
Nevertheless, for the Phillies and their fans’ sanity, they better hope that such a bold prediction doesn’t end up coming to fruition.
