4 Takeaways From the Dodgers Signing Kyle Tucker for $240 Million

[ad_1] All anybody can do is chortle.

Dodgers followers are in a contented temper after outfielder Kyle Tucker, the undisputed jewel of this 12 months's free-agent class, signed a reported four-year, $240 million deal that features opt-outs after the second and third seasons.

In the meantime, the 29 different MLB fanbases will simply must chortle via the ache of watching yet one more star participant be a part of the defending World Sequence champions as they go for a three-peat.

Listed here are our takeaways:

1. Dodgers tackle their two greatest wants with the most effective choices accessible On Dec. 8, supervisor Dave Roberts stated there was "no huge splash" the Dodgers wanted to make. Later that week, they made one anyway after they signed nearer Edwin Diaz. And 5 weeks later, in an offseason through which they initially appeared content material to take a seat out of the highest finish of the free-agent market, they’ve additionally now added the highest general participant accessible in Tucker.

They're all the time lurking, able to pounce, particularly if a star turns into accessible on a shorter-term deal. That was the case this winter, because the reigning champs addressed their two most obtrusive wants — bullpen and outfield — with the 2 greatest free brokers at their respective positions.

They have been capable of persuade Díaz to signal for 3 years by giving him the very best common annual worth ever for a reliever. They obtained Tucker, who was additionally projected to signal a for much longer deal, for 4 years with opt-outs by giving him the very best AAV ever for an outfielder (Mets slugger Juan Soto beforehand held that mark at $51 million) and the second-highest annual wage ever for a participant behind solely his new teammate Shohei Ohtani. Accounting for deferrals, Tucker’s deal is an annual file in present-day worth.

The fee is staggering for any crew, not to mention a membership that's already penalized on the highest tax fee. However the Dodgers have made abundantly clear that regardless of how a lot cash they’ve already spent, there’s all the time extra accessible of their Ohtani economic system.

The additions of Díaz and Tucker, who each had a qualifying provide hooked up, may even price the Dodgers their second, third, fifth and sixth-highest picks within the 2026 draft. However president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman vowed that the Dodgers would do every thing they will to place themselves in the most effective place to win once more in 2026. And by including Díaz and Tucker to a championship roster, they’re in prime place to change into the primary crew to three-peat for the reason that 1998-00 Yankees. - Kavner

2. How do the Mets save their offseason? (Picture by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM through Getty Photographs)

Mets proprietor Steve Cohen provoked intense reactions when he posted a cryptic message on social media — "Let me know whenever you see smoke" — on Thursday night time, simply a few hours earlier than information broke about Tucker’s determination to signal with the Dodgers. Cohen stoked the hearth, just for Tucker to sidestep the Mets’ provide.

Talking of smoke, the Mets have been underneath fireplace all winter after president of baseball operations David Stearns broke up the crew’s core, with Pete Alonso (Orioles), Brandon Nimmo (Rangers), and Diaz (Dodgers) all departing from New York within the first a part of the offseason. Signing Tucker would’ve expunged the anguish of shedding three fan favorites.

How can the Mets save their offseason now? Stearns created a void within the outfield when he dealt Nimmo to Texas. The Mets wished Tucker to fill that void, hoping their substantial provide could be sufficient. Now, they will pivot by pushing laborious for free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, whose versatility in left discipline and first base is an ideal match for the Mets.

Past position-player upgrades, the Mets nonetheless must bolster their rotation, which was the first cause they missed the playoffs of their disappointing 83-win season final 12 months. With Ranger Suarez off the board, would signing left-hander Framber Valdez (our top-ranked free agent pitcher) be sufficient to alter the so-far bewildering state of their offseason? For now, limiting Cohen’s social-media utilization could possibly be an excellent begin. – Thosar

3. Blue Jays soak up yet one more Dodgers gut-punch Not once more.

That needs to be the prevailing thought from a jilted Blue Jays fanbase. Two years in the past, they misplaced the Ohtani free company sweepstakes. Final offseason, they misplaced the Roki Sasaki battle after which fell in agonizing trend in Recreation 7 of the World Sequence. And now, Toronto has absorbed its newest L.A. gut-punch with Tucker selecting the Dodgers.

The Blue Jays have been among the many favorites to land the highest free agent, a transfer that will have unquestionably made them the winners of the offseason and set their outfield up for years to come back with George Springer and Daulton Varsho each coming into their remaining 12 months underneath contract in Toronto. Lacking out on Tucker is a tricky blow.

Nonetheless, not like previous offseasons, this winter was successful for the Blue Jays even after the miss. After signing Dylan Stop, Kazuma Okamoto, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers, they’ve spent greater than any crew in free company and have put themselves in robust place to repeat as AL East champions. Tucker would have represented an apparent improve, however with Addison Barger, Varsho, Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes, they will nonetheless discipline an satisfactory outfield. As at the moment constructed, they've a crew able to making one other deep October run.

Plus, the winter just isn't but accomplished. Maybe they now flip extra of their focus, and the cash they'd have spent on Tucker, towards bringing again prime infielder Bo Bichette. - Kavner

4. A contemporary wave of CBA and lockout speak The Dodgers’ signing of Tucker invitations extra discourse of a possible lockout on the finish of this 12 months. MLB's present Collective Bargaining Settlement expires on Dec. 1, after which the league is anticipated to lock out the gamers and shut down free company and trades, prefer it did in 2021.

As soon as once more, MLB homeowners are pushing for a wage cap, pointing to very large payroll gaps and the truth that the Dodgers are constantly stacking stars and flexing their monetary would possibly in unprecedented methods, whereas arguing that smaller-market groups can't compete.

Notably after the Tucker signing, most fan bases usually tend to aspect with the homeowners. The gamers union is ready to face in the best way, which might result in missed video games amid a piece stoppage in 2027.

For the Dodgers’ half, all they care about is successful. But it surely’s vital to recollect, their drive to compete has improved the underside line. They paid almost $170 million in luxurious taxes in 2025, which shattered the file. This will probably be their sixth-straight 12 months paying the very best penalty charges. The extra the Dodgers pay in luxurious taxes, the more cash they’re redirecting to different golf equipment via income sharing.

Whereas a wage cap would, in concept, result in monetary equity, the Dodgers’ present-day success is years within the making – together with their shrewd front-office methods (deferring participant salaries) and powerful participant growth. These benefits received’t change even when a cap one way or the other goes via. Nonetheless, the Dodgers but once more signing the highest free agent within the class will solely intensify talks of a lockout and potential nasty labor battle. – Thosar

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Deesha Thosar is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Every day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Comply with her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand lined the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved again to the West Coast in 2014. Comply with him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.