Free-agent Hitter Kyle Tucker has yet to sign with any MLB team, and that could bode well for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tucker is probably the best player out on the free-agent market, but he isn’t having times lining up to pay what he and his camp are demanding.
As the days go by, Tucker might need to re-evaluate his demands, which could benefit the teams that have stayed patient on their front.
On Jan. 6, former MLB general manager Jim Duquette reported, citing a league source, that the New York Mets, the Dodgers, and the Toronto Blue Jays are the most aggressive suitors for Tucker. Nothing appears imminent, but there’s a clear gap between them and the other teams reportedly interested.
If the Dodgers can get Tucker at their asking price, it would fill a need in the outfield. While the outfield is a weak spot for the reigning back-to-back World Series champions, it’s not enough to overspend. However, if Los Angeles feel like the price fits their budget, they can clearly jump in to land the former Chicago Cubs player.
Should the Dodgers Worry About the Mets for Kyle Tucker?
On Jan. 5, The Athletic’s Will Sammon appeared on SNY’s “Baseball Night in New York “ to share whether the Mets are a serious suitor for Tucker.
“I would suspect that [Tucker is] the crown jewel of this free agent class, and he probably has other options that may be better, “ Sammon said. “We’ll see, because [the Mets are] always going to lurk, they’re always going to linger, they’re going to check in on guys, and they have the resources to make things very interesting.”
Moreover, Sammon gave an update on the Mets’ interest in Cody Bellinger.
“They’ll check in on it, and if this market is not what he wants it to be, they could swoop in,” Sammon added. “To your point, Sal, they could be that team that uses those resources of Steve Cohen to their advantage and say, ‘Hey, here’s a shorter offer, but the AAV, the annual average value, the dollars, it’s going to be pretty high.’ That does entice guys sometimes.”
Where Do the Blue Jays Stand for Kyle Tucker?
As for the other team in what looks like a three-horse race, the Blue Jays, one insider believes that while Toronto have had interest in Tucker, the top suitor for the outfielder is the Mets.
“At one point, the Blue Jays looked like the best candidate to give Kyle Tucker a long-term deal, ” Ben Nicholson-Smith said on Jan. 5 during an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “Now, I would say that’s the Mets because, you look at the Mets roster, they have Tyrone Taylor starting in one outfield spot on their projection.
“They have Carson Benge, I had to check that name, starting in one of their other outfield spots. So, clearly, the Mets need to add an outfielder. Kyle Tucker’s out there; the Mets spend like nobody else.”
The Dodgers already addressed one weakness on their team, which was the closer role, with the addition of Edwin Diaz. Moreover, it seems like their patience is opening the door to address another weak spot. If they can come away with Diaz and potentially Tucker, a three-peat is definitely in the cards for Los Angeles.
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