Kyle Tucker has agreed to a $240 million, four-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, AP source says
Kyle Tucker has agreed to a $240 million, four-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a person familiar with the deal, bolstering the franchise's chance for a third consecutive World Series championship.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical.
Tucker's $60 million average annual value would be the second highest in baseball history, not factoring discounting, behind Shohei Ohtani's $70 million in his 10-year deal with the Dodgers that runs through 2033.
When healthy, Tucker is among the best all-around players in the majors. But the outfielder has played in just 214 regular-season games over the past two years.
He batted .266 with 22 homers and 73 RBI with the Cubs last season. He was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Houston in December 2024 that moved slugging prospect Cam Smith to the Astros.
Tucker was slowed by a pair of injuries in his lone season with the Cubs. He sustained a small fracture in his right hand on an awkward slide against Cincinnati on June 1. He also strained his left calf against Atlanta on Sept. 2.
After getting off to a fast start with his new team, Tucker hit just .231 with five homers in 41 games after the All-Star break. He served as Chicago's designated hitter in the playoffs as the Cubs eliminated San Diego in the first round before losing to Milwaukee in a five-game NL Division Series.
Tucker, who turns 29 on Saturday, rejected a $22,025,000 qualifying offer in November, so his new deal means the Cubs will get a compensatory draft pick.
Tucker was selected by Houston with the No. 5 pick in the 2015 amateur draft. He played in three World Series with the Astros, winning a ring in 2022.
He hit at least 29 homers and drove in at least 92 runs for three straight seasons from 2021-23. He won a Gold Glove in 2022 and led the AL with 112 RBI in 2023.
He was limited to 78 games in his final season with Houston because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBI.
The Tampa, Florida, native is a .273 hitter with 147 homers, 490 RBI and an .865 OPS in 769 games. He also has 119 steals in 135 attempts.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.