LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have done it again.
The Dodgers have come to terms with free-agent star outfielder Kyle Tucker on a four-year, $240 million contract, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, sending shockwaves through the sport and reinforcing what the rest of baseball already knows: if you want to win, everything runs through Los Angeles.
This move is more than just a splash — it’s a statement. The Dodgers are fully committed to chasing a historic three-peat, and the addition of Tucker serves as a clear wake-up call to the rest of the league.
Tucker chose the Dodgers over the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, and that decision speaks volumes. Toronto was believed to be the only team to offer Tucker a long-term deal, while the Mets — per usual — were involved until the very end. In fact, New York was informed just minutes before the news broke that Tucker would not be heading to Queens.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Tucker, 28, will turn 29 on Saturday, making this signing quite the birthday gift for himself and his family. And for the Dodgers, it’s another superstar entering his prime years to plug into an already stacked roster.
The left-handed slugger spent the 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, after being acquired from the Houston Astros in a blockbuster December 2024 trade. Despite battling finger and calf injuries during the season, Tucker still posted strong numbers, hitting .266 with 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 136 games. His performance earned him his fourth consecutive All-Star selection and his second career Silver Slugger Award.
Before his brief stint in Chicago, Tucker spent seven seasons with the Astros (2018–2024).
In Houston, Tucker hit .274 with 125 home runs, 417 RBIs, and 94 stolen bases across 633 regular-season games, playing a key role in multiple postseason runs.
The ripple effects of this signing are already being felt. Most notably, it all but confirms that the Dodgers will not pursue a reunion with former MVP Cody Bellinger. Speculation had been swirling in recent weeks about a possible return to Los Angeles, but Tucker’s arrival makes the organization’s priorities crystal clear.
When the Dodgers want something, they get it.
That mindset — aggressive, unapologetic, and championship-driven — is exactly why they are back-to-back World Series champions. And now, with Kyle Tucker in Dodger blue, the rest of baseball is officially on notice.
