Dodgers already linked to 1 All-Star free agent

The Los Angeles Dodgers are already being linked to a marquee free agent while being knee-deep in their World Series title defense.

The Dodgers have drawn the ire of the rest of the MLB landscape with their aggressive pursuit of what feels like every top free agent on the market. Los Angeles already hauled in the biggest fish imaginable two seasons ago in Shohei Ohtani, but has continued to stockpile top-tier talent.

The team is reportedly setting its sights on Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker this offseason. According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, there is no question that the team will chase after Tucker in free agency. Heyman pegged the dollar figure at “maybe $400 million.”

Tucker had a relatively down season in his first campaign with the Cubs. He batted .266 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and an OPS of .841 — all below his norms over a full season. But the 28-year-old still had a 4.5 WAR figure and was named an All-Star for the fourth straight season.

The Dodgers adding Tucker to their MVP-filled lineup would feel downright unfair. The team already has the largest payroll in MLB this season, with north of $350 million worth of owed salaries. But with the Dodgers’ controversial yet effective method of deferring future payments, the team remains committed to getting even better, whether or not they win the World Series for a second time in two seasons.