Kyle Tucker Prediction Emerges Amid MLB Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 7:39 AM ET

Kyle Tucker, one of baseball’s most complete outfielders, heads into free agency after another season that reinforced his standing as the top bat on the market.

The 28-year-old(turning 29 this January) right fielder appeared in 136 games and had 500 at-bats, producing a .266/.377/.464 slash line (.841 OPS) with 133 hits, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, 91 runs scored and 25 stolen bases.

His profile, a middle-of-the-order bat who can play a corner outfield spot and contribute on the bases, is the sort of skill set that typically draws multiyear, high-dollar offers.

That combination of production and youth has made Tucker the centerpiece of this winter’s market. Projection models and industry insiders peg him as the highest-priced free agent in the class, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projecting an 11-year, $418 million contract in his latest free-agent rankings.

The Cubs, who tendered Tucker a qualifying offer, are widely expected to pursue, but are already far behind other potential suitors and out of the conversation. The spotlight is on the World Series winners, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Athlon Sports contributor Scott Boeck explicitly cast the Dodgers as a likely destination, writing.

"They have the money. They have the rings," he wrote. "They had the second-most productive offense in the majors during the regular season (5.09 runs per game, behind only the New York Yankees, 5.24 per game). Imagine a lineup that could include Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernández, and Tucker."

Fit is not purely cosmetic. Tucker brings an on-base and extra-base profile that would upgrade any lineup.

The Athletic’s staff also framed the Dodgers as a frontrunner, noting both roster fit and roster flexibility. As written by Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal, "With an endless appetite for winning more championships, the free-spending Dodgers are seen as a frontrunner for Tucker, who would not have to be the superstar on a team aiming for a three-peat."

MLB GMs predict that Kyle Tucker will sign with one of the following three teams, per @BNightengale

Yankees
Blue Jays
Dodgers pic.twitter.com/ALcpJ8ZSVX
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 10, 2025

"Teoscar Hernández’s defense is a concern, and his .738 OPS represented the lowest mark of his career," they continued. "Tommy Edman can play center, though he spent most of the season nursing an ankle injury that kept him from the outfield. The Dodgers could also pursue another reunion with Kiké Hernández. Still, none of these options represents a sure-fire fix."

"In a relatively seamless transition, Hernández could move back to left field and clear a spot for Tucker at Dodger Stadium, where he could blend in and instantly make this lineup more dynamic," The Athletic added.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: