MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding Kyle Tucker.
Nov. 10: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yanks viewed as likely Tucker landing spots; Orioles a team to watch?
With the GM Meetings beginning Monday in Las Vegas, the Hot Stove should start to heat up this week. Even if we don’t see a bevy of free-agent signings, there will likely be plenty of rumors and information to glean from regarding some of the best players in this year’s class.
A separate league source told The Athletic that the O’s are “open to pursuing a premium bat, both in terms of price and production.”
The Dodgers could easily slot Tucker into right field and slide Teoscar Hernández over to left, a position where they lacked a serious offensive threat this season. Toronto has fallen short in the bidding for some recent headline free agents (Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Juan Soto). But it may not be denied this time after coming up just one win shy of a World Series title. The Yankees, meanwhile, have an outfield spot to fill with Cody Bellinger currently in free agency.
Offense doesn’t seem like Baltimore’s biggest need this offseason; it should be more focused on adding a top-of-the-rotation starter as well as more pitching depth to improve a staff that had a 4.60 ERA this season. However, in the wake of a last-place finish in the AL East, the Orioles may be motivated to land the best free agent available. Plus, Tucker is very familiar with O’s president of baseball operations Mike Elias, who was the Astros’ scouting director when Houston drafted Tucker fifth overall in 2015.
Nov. 2: Which teams will be in on Tucker?
The Cubs gave up a haul in December for one guaranteed year of Tucker. It looked like a worthwhile move to get one of the top hitters in the game. His 144 wRC+ from 2021-24 was 11th best among qualified hitters. The marriage started splendidly, with Tucker carrying a .391 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage into June. But a right hand fracture that month and a September left calf strain took their toll on his production. Granted, his end-of-season 136 wRC+ was still not too shabby.
Even after a season that fell a little short of expectations, Tucker figures to have myriad teams vying for his services this winter. He has produced at least 4.0 FanGraphs WAR in each of the past five seasons and will be only 29 years old at the start of the 2026 campaign. He is the No. 1 free agent this offseason, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
So, which teams will be going after the lefty-hitting outfielder? MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported on Oct. 18 in the New York Post (subscription required) that the Dodgers are expected to make a push for Tucker. The Yankees and Giants could make a run at him. The Phillies are another possible suitor, especially if they can’t re-sign Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs will take their shot at bringing Tucker back. Plus, as Feinsand wrote, you can count on a surprise team or two being in the mix when dealing with a player of Tucker’s caliber.
