The rich get richer.
Kyle Tucker, the prized outfielder who was widely considered the top player available in free agency, reportedly agreed to a four-year, $240-million deal with the Dodgers, according to multiple reports Thursday night.
Shortly after the deal was reported, Tucker posted to his Instagram account, “It’s Time for Dodger baseball.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the deal. The $60-million annual value attached to Tucker’s contract would be the second highest in Major League Baseball, if not accounting for deferrals such as Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting contract two seasons ago.
ESPN also reported that Tucker will receive opt outs in 2027 and 2028, and a $64-million signing bonus — while $30 million of his four-year contract will be deferred.
Despite dealing with a fractured right hand and a calf strain last season with the Cubs, the left-handed slugger slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs. Seventeen of his home runs came before the All-Star break, a sign of injuries bogging down his results at the plate.
The Cubs acquired Tucker last offseason in a trade with the Houston Astros, where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. From 2018 to 2024 with the Astros, Tucker had 125 home runs, 417 RBIs and 94 stolen bases with a .274 batting average and .353 on-base percentage.
Tucker finished fifth in American League MVP voting in 2023, when he hit .284 with 29 home runs and a career-high 122 RBIs.
The signing addresses an area where the Dodgers were in need of an upgrade, after the outfield corps posted minus-1.6 wins above replacement in 2025. Tucker, a four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove winner, recorded 4.6 wins above replacement during the 2025 season, and will probably slot somewhere amid the trio of Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the Dodgers’ starting lineup.
Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker bats against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 31.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 13, while Tucker and the rest of the Dodgers will report to Camelback Ranch on Feb. 17.
The question heading into the offseason was how the Dodgers would go about improving their outfield. Although they had plenty of financial flexibility at the start of the offseason, with more than $60 million in salary from last season coming off the books, the front office also touted potential internal options. Some of those included Alex Call, Hyeseong Kim and Ryan Ward, who was named the Pacific Coast League’s MVP in 2025 and was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason.
The team used that flexibility to make a splash last month when they signed reliever Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69-million deal, emerging as a surprise winner after Díaz appeared on track to sign elsewhere.
When reports emerged about the Mets offering a short-term deal worth $50 million per year, the Dodgers appeared to be out of the running. Mets owner Steven Cohen even posted Thursday evening on X, making reference to smoke appearing during papal elections, a sign that Tucker’s signing appeared imminent.
But instead of proverbial smoke rising above Citi Field, Tucker, who turns 29 on Saturday, will land in Chavez Ravine’s batter’s box — the latest marquee free-agent signing by the two-time defending World Series champions.
The Dodgers are banking on the productivity Tucker has shown when healthy — he’s a career .273 hitter with an .865 OPS — but he’s dealt with injuries the last two seasons. He served as the Cubs’ designated hitter during their postseason run, which ended in a five-game loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the division series.
Tucker rejected a qualifying offer from the Cubs earlier this offseason. Since he signed with the Dodgers, Chicago will receive a compensatory selection in the 2026 draft.