Kyle Tucker predicted to betray Cubs for 5-year, $200M deal with NL dynasty

The Chicago Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade last winter, but they’re bound to lose him in free agency this offseason.

The top three suitors in the Tucker sweepstakes are seemingly the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. All three of these teams have the money to sign Tucker to a massive contract, but it’s unclear where the slugger is leaning right now.

Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicted Tucker would sign with the Dodgers on a massive five-year, $200 million deal this offseason, which is much shorter than many project him to sign for.

“We’ve predicted Kyle Tucker to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays in recent pieces, but now that’s changing,” Johnson wrote. “The Los Angeles Dodgers have been going for short-term deals with a higher average annual value, using that strategy to land Edwin Diaz.

“Perhaps something similar could work with Kyle Tucker, who remains on the open market more than a week past the MLB Winter Meetings. The prediction now is that Tucker takes a five-year, $200 million contract with the Dodgers that includes an opt-out after the 2027 and 2029 seasons.”

Tucker seems unlikely to want a short-term deal, but given the structure and opt-outs in the proposed deal, it could make sense. There’s a chance the Blue Jays or Yankees offer Tucker over $420 million, which would likely crush the Dodgers’ chances in these sweepstakes, but that’s still to be seen.

The Dodgers are looked at as a long shot for Tucker right now, but they have a much better chance than many are giving them credit for, especially with opt-outs and deferred money.

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