Did the Los Angeles Dodgers overpay for Kyle Tucker?

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker. William Navarro-Imagn Images

Did the Los Angeles Dodgers overpay for Kyle Tucker?

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Jun 22, 2026 5:22 PM ET

We are looming closer to the All-Star break and the $60 million annual average salary (AAV) of Kyle Tucker is not measuring up to his performance so far for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.

The 29-year-old is batting .234 with six home runs and 40 RBI across 273 at-bats this season. While he is playing in a new environment and is in his first season with the Dodgers, he is performing well below his usual offensive standards, a strong indication that the Tucker signing could potentially be one of the worst deals in Dodgers history.

The frustration level has risen for a player whose contract is the second highest on the team to Shohei Ohtani. A .234/.331/.374 slash line with an .705 OPS that is well below his career OPS of .851 is certainly not the $240 million player that they signed up for.

It's been a doomsday for Tucker, who has earned several accolades in his career. He's a four-time All-Star, 2022 World Series champion, a two-time Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove winner, but Tucker has demonstrated mediocrity so far, and it has baffled Dodgers fans.

Kyle Tucker with one of the worst at bats you will ever see

I can't believe this man is getting paid $60 million a year pic.twitter.com/iA9qwCl4wU
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) June 21, 2026

Kyle Tucker's lackluster performance is raising concerns

In the blowout 12-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on June 21, Tucker went 0-for-4 with no runs and no RBI and left three runners on base.

On June 20, he had the perfect chance to tie the game and even possibly provide a walk-off victory for the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth inning with runners on the corners and two outs. Tucker had already gone 0-for-3 at the plate and, in a clutch moment, struck out on a 91 mph splitter from Yennier Cano.

Tucker's offensive output has been on a decline over the past few years.

In 2021, his sprint speed was 27.4 feet per seconds, and this season, it has gone down to 26.2 feet per seconds. His bat speed in 2024 was 72.2 mph, and this season, it ranks in the 36th percentile at 71.2 mph.

His performance at home has been far from vibrant with a batting average of .191 with 26 hits, two home runs, 14 RBI and 19 runs scored across 38 games.

While he has performed better on the road, with a .277 batting average with 38 hits, four home runs, 26 RBI and 25 runs across 36 games, the Dodgers are going to need more urgency from Tucker.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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