Gamers like Kyle Tucker are not often obtainable in free company.
Tucker additionally performed by way of a hairline fracture in his proper hand final summer time, which sapped a few of his underlying energy. His total numbers may have been even higher with full well being. But, he nonetheless completed along with his third 20-20 season within the final 4 years together with a 136 wRC+ (100 is league common).
Put this all collectively and that is why the left-handed slugger ranks as the highest free agent obtainable by many analysts, anticipated to land a contract approaching, or maybe exceeding, $400 million. Each group, even the reigning champion Dodgers, may gain advantage by signing Tucker.
However the place would he have the best influence amongst believable suitors? Which membership that’s anticipated to have the price range to contend for Tucker would achieve probably the most in including him? Let’s discover, and rank six logical locations by how good of a match they’d be for Tucker.
He is probably the greatest hitters within the Majors at pulling the ball within the air (22.7% mark for his profession versus the MLB common of 16.7%), which is probably the most invaluable batted-ball sort within the recreation. And naturally, the size are not often tighter within the professional recreation than alongside the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium.
It is a talent Tucker has improved all through his profession, posting his greatest mark in 2024 (26.2%) and one other top-five mark of his profession final season (24.8%). It is also the uncommon underlying talent that improves with age.
That is all related for the Yankees. Because the begin of the 2023 season, Yankee Stadium ranks second in dwelling runs and fourth in slugging proportion (.780) in pulled batted balls by left-handed batters. Whereas the Yankees traded for left-handed bats (Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger) final winter — Bellinger is now a free agent — they have not made a serious free-agent funding in a participant who matches their ballpark in addition to Tucker since, arguably, the Jason Giambi signing in 2002.
Giambi hit 209 dwelling runs for the Yankees, probably the most by a left-handed hitter this century for the membership. And Giambi didn’t even arrive in New York till his age-31 season.
Tucker may make an identical however extra well-rounded influence due to his protection and baserunning. He is stolen 119 bases towards 16 occasions being caught in his profession. (His 88% success fee trails solely Josh Lowe and Byron Buxton amongst lively gamers a minimum of 80 makes an attempt.)
The Giants have proven a willingness to go big-game looking in latest offseasons, as severe suitors for Aaron Choose and Carlos Correa, and making an in-season commerce for Rafael Devers final season. Devers, like Tucker, is getting into his age-29 season.
To shut the hole within the NL West, the Giants should add star expertise — particularly place participant expertise.
The Giants’ proper fielders ranked twenty seventh in wRC+ (83). Tucker could be a serious improve there. And whereas Oracle Park suppresses left-handed energy, rating thirtieth in left-handed pulled dwelling runs since 2023, an elite pull-hitting lefty (see: Bonds, Barry) may give the Giants an edge in a troublesome park for left-handed sluggers.
There are few groups with extra motivation so as to add a star.
For Mets followers, it was a brutal few days at this week’s Winter Conferences, as standard stars Pete Alonso and Edwin DÃaz departed as free brokers. However there’s one large option to regain the initiative, spark enthusiasm and enhance the ballclub, and that’s by signing one of the best free agent in the marketplace for a second consecutive winter, one other under-30 star slugger in Tucker.
NL contenders want as a lot firepower as potential to take care of the Dodgers. The Mets nonetheless must take care of the Braves and Phillies of their division, too. In dropping their second-best bat by dwelling runs and wRC+ in Alonso, and third-best in RBIs in Brandon Nimmo, the Mets may use extra offensive punch.
The Mets even have a legit positional want for Tucker, within the wake of the Nimmo commerce. Their outfield depth chart has Tyrone Taylor in heart and Jeff McNeil in left subject. These are stable gamers, actually, however arguably greatest match for utility roles on contenders. And with Alonso gone, that additionally opens up 600 plate appearances at first base or DH by way of which to rotate gamers or fill with main offensive influence.
A major-aged Tucker and Juan Soto collectively for years would current issues for the remainder of the NL.
Toronto has develop into an ultra-aggressive membership by way of spending and participant acquisition.
Lower than a yr after agreeing to a franchise-record, $500-million take care of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. the Jays kicked off this Sizzling Range season by signing free-agent starter Dylan Stop, arguably one of the best pitcher on this class, to a club-record deal for a pitcher (7 years, $210 million). Now they’re courting Tucker, who reportedly visited the membership’s state-of-the-art Dunedin, Fla. advanced.
Whereas the Jays have a robust place participant group that made vital inside enchancment a yr in the past, they might use extra left-handed stability. Their left-handed bats mixed for a .240/.306/.413 slash line and 99 wRC+ in 2025, rating nineteenth in MLB. Additionally they ranked simply twenty third in plate appearances by lefties.
Their righty bats, in the meantime, had been second within the Majors with a 123 wRC+ (.284/.352/.447 slash line).
Within the AL East, the Purple Sox, Orioles and Rays may all be stronger than a yr in the past, too. It is a powerful neighborhood. Maybe the hardest. The Jays are smart to maintain making an attempt to enhance.
Whereas the re-signing of Kyle Schwarber may complicate issues, the Phillies are a transparent win-now group with a gifted however getting older core. The Phillies had the second-oldest place participant group (30.3 years) after the Dodgers in 2025.
Tucker would give the Phillies one of the best trio of left-handed hitters within the recreation together with Bryce Harper and Schwarber. That’s particularly vital when contemplating the beginning rotations of prime NL contenders just like the Dodgers, Brewers, Mets, Braves and Padres. For the time being, these golf equipment function solely six left-handers, mixed, of their rotations.
Energy — and platoon benefits — can matter an awesome deal in October.
Sure, even the back-to-back World Sequence champions may use Tucker.
Whereas they’re seemingly the group with all the things, even the Dodgers have wants — notably within the outfield. Los Angeles ranked simply twentieth in outfield WAR, and twenty first in mixed outfielder wRC+ final season.
And as invincible because the Dodgers appear, they’re getting older. That they had the Majors’ oldest place participant group final yr, with a median weighted age of 30.7 years. (The MLB common was 27.9 years.) Freddie Freeman solely has so many star-level years left, and Mookie Betts had a down yr at age 32. Even the Dodgers can not defeat Father Time.
There are additionally historic issues. The push for a three-peat, and an opportunity to be generally known as a dynasty, will increase incentive so as to add as a lot expertise as potential to their already star-laden forged. The final group to win three consecutive World Sequence was the 1998-2000 Yankees.
