After a high-profile free agency saga, outfielder Kyler Tucker chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers despite links to the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets. Tucker chose to sign a four-year contract worth $240 million, with opt-outs after the second and third seasons, per ESPN.
Nonetheless, joining a team coming off back-to-back World Series titles rubbed people the wrong way, as Los Angeles continues to be a top destination for free agents looking to win.
As Tucker heads into Year 1 with the Dodgers, the outfielder spoke with MLB Network on Feb. 23 and shared the reasons he chose Los Angeles.
“This is just an organization that I thought was first class from the top down,” Tucker said. “Really good players and a really great fan base. Everyone, from the front office and the coaching staff to the guys that we see in the locker room every day, is committed to winning. So, just taking all that into account, this is just a place that I want to be a part of.”
Moreover, Tucker spoke about the free agency process and didn’t necessarily have the Dodgers pinpointed as the destination. He added that his focus was more on staying in shape to prepare for the 2026 season as he let the market unfold.
“I treated it like any other offseason, not necessarily worrying about where I’m going to go play, just making sure that wherever I am, I’m going to be ready when the season comes,” Tucker added. “So I just treated it like a normal offseason, did a couple of family vacations, worked out, and just tried to train, and was just hoping that the rest of it took care of itself. So that’s how I approached it and tried not to stress out too much about it.”
Dodgers’ Will Smith Doesn’t Hold Back on Kyle Tucker
Tucker made his Cactus League debut in the 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Feb. 22 at Peoria Sports Complex, where he had one plate appearance. Nonetheless, the outfielder’s new teammates are getting a sense of what it’s like to have Tucker around.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith spoke on Feb. 22 about what it’s like to have Tucker on their side after playing against him for several seasons.
“I’ve seen him for six, seven years now,” Smith told SportsNet LA. “[Tucker is] a good player. I’m glad he’s with us. He’s a really good hitter, a tough out. [He] has a really good feel for the strike zone. He’s got power [and] he’s a good outfielder as well. Steals bases. Just a really, really good player, and he’s gonna help us win a championship this year.”
LA Front Office Pushes Back Against Kyle Tucker Claim
Over the offseason, there was speculation questioning his passion for baseball. Nonetheless, Andrew Friedman, the president of baseball operations for the Dodgers, noted that the team did their work on whether there was any truth to this claim surrounding Tucker.
“With Tuck, you know, obviously, there was some stuff that was written and questions about, you know, how much he likes the game, etc., that, as we dug into it, we found to be pretty unfair,” Friedman said on the Feb. 20 edition of “Foul Territory.” “He’s just a lower-motor guy.
“As we dug on that and got into it, for me, makeup is so much about what you do to prepare yourself to go win a game and how you compete. And I will bet on Tuck with what he does. People say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t take enough swings before the game.‘ I think most guys take way too many.”