On Thursday night, the Kyle Tucker free agent sweepstakes came to a conclusion. Heading into the day, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers were the three finalists for the four-time All-Star’s services. To the dismay of MLB fans around the world, LA added another star to its stacked roster as it pursues a third straight title in 2026.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the deal is for four years and $240 million. The contract includes opt-outs after the first and third year, and it is unclear if there are any deferrals. If there are none, the 29-year-old becomes MLB’s highest-paid player annually — without deferrals.
Following the big news, let’s look at the biggest winners and losers after Kyle Tucker chose the Dodgers in free agency.
Winner: Kyle Tucker
Obviously, Tucker is the biggest winner in this whole situation. Sure, he didn’t get the $400 million deal some projected he could get, but he still landed a historic contract that exceeded expectations, just in a different way.
While he has the flexibility to opt out and test the market again in a couple of seasons, walking away from such a massive yearly payday is unlikely. Especially when it would include turning his back on a chance to win a World Series every year.
Loser: NY Mets
Earlier this week, it seemed like the New York Mets and their rumored offer of four years and $50 million would win the day. However, in a rarity, the team with the wealthiest owner in the sport was outbid. In the end, they may benefit by not giving Tucker so much. But it is another frustrating moment for a fanbase that feels this offseason has been a major letdown following a historic September collapse.
Winner: LA Dodgers
Hate them or love them, the LA Dodgers improved an area of need and added another high-level bat to an already powerful lineup. While there were always whispers that they would be player in the Tucker market, most assumed the club would not continue to push the spending envelope for a third straight year. Especially after giving closer Edwin Diaz a historic contract earlier in the offseason.
Well, LA doesn’t care about leaguewide frustration. They are chasing absolute dominance and will continue to use every resource at their disposal to do so.
Loser: Toronto Blue Jays
For weeks, the Toronto Blue Jays seemed like the favorites to land Kyle Tucker because they were believed to be the lone franchise willing to give him a long-term pact. However, when teams like the Mets and Dodgers started to throw around massive AAVs, Tucker and his representation got a taste of something they couldn’t turn away from.
When Toronto proved unwilling to add more yearly dollars to their offer, they once again came up just short for the top player in free agency. Losing the chase to the Dodgers again, months after falling to them in the World Series, only makes it worse.
Winner: Bo Bichette
Speaking of the Blue Jays, don’t be surprised if this defeat galvanizes them to go hard to re-sign homegrown star Bo Bichette. That will benefit the star shortstop greatly because it likely means a bidding war with teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees could begin over the next couple of days. Meaning he may also land a deal above projections.
Winner: Cody Bellinger
Similar to Bichette, the Cody Bellinger market is sure to heat up again over the next 72 hours. While he hasn’t gotten the offer he wants yet, the Mets and Blue Jays could pivot hard toward the 30-year-old who offers a great fallback option after failing to sign Kyle Tucker.
Loser: NY Yankees
The Yankees not giving Bellinger the offer he wants could come back to bite them. In a very underwhelming offseason, they may now have to get into a very expensive bidding war with the Mets and Blue Jays for the versatile outfielder. Something Bellinger and his representatives were surely waiting for all this time.
Loser: MLB and Fans
While the news is good for LA Dodgers fans, it will be met with annoyance and frustration by many MLB owners and fans around the country. The rich continue to get richer as the champs continue to act like a runaway spending train that has seemingly gone off the rails.
There have already been rumblings that this could push the league to a lockout after the 2026 season, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires. LA signing the top player on the market and having the most expensive yearly and total value deals in MLB history on the same roster will make a lockout in a year a near certainty.
