The Los Angeles Dodgers made another splash by reaching an agreement to sign Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract that includes deferrals and a pair of opt-outs.
Tucker, the offseason’s top free agent, is joining the Dodgers after spending one year with the Chicago Cubs. He was acquired from the Houston Astros prior to the 2025 season and made an immediate impact in the Windy City.
Tucker hit an excellent .280/.384/.499 with 19 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs and 56 RBI over his first 95 games in Chicago. However, his production dropped in the second half as he recorded only 11 extra-base hits with a .738 on-base plus slugging.
Some of those struggles can be attributed to Tucker dealing with separate hand and calf injuries over the final few months of the regular season.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer noted that Tucker’s 2025 season was a tale of two halves but nevertheless is happy for him after signing with the Dodgers, via Patrick Mooney of The Athletic:
“Kyle had an interesting season with us,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Friday. “He showed the superstar that he is in the first half, and he helped carry our offense in the first half. Obviously, in the second half, he struggled a bit. But he’s a star, and he got paid like a star.
“I’m happy for him. He’s going to a place where he can obviously win. It makes me happy that we were a good platform for him to have a good year and to play in the postseason and to get paid.”
Tucker was a key player for the Cubs but they seemingly wanted to go in a different direction by signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract.
Tucker nevertheless received significant interest in free agency as he reportedly received lucrative contract offers from the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets before signing with the Dodgers.
Tucker now joins a star-studded group in L.A. that includes Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, among others.
Dodgers forfeiting 2026 MLB Draft picks to sign Kyle Tucker
The Dodgers signing Tucker and Edwin Díaz, two players who rejected the qualifying offer from their previous teams this offseason, means they will be giving up multiple picks in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Because they surpassed the third competitive balance tax threshold this past season, the Dodgers are forfeiting their second, third, fifth and sixth-highest selections in this year’s draft.
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