Dodgers Reportedly Plan to Pursue Cubs' Kyle Tucker in 2025 MLB Free Agency

The Los Angeles Dodgers "plan to jump into the free-agency fray" for Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker this winter, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Tucker is making $16.5 million in 2025 during his final season under arbitration with the Cubs.

The 28-year-old is likely to receive a significant raise on his next deal. Spotrac projects his market value at 12 years and $539 million.

Nightengale wrote that the Dodgers "may not be the high bidder, but they’ll surely keep everyone honest just as they did when they were in the Juan Soto sweepstakes."

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Brendan Kuty and Ken Rosenthal previously reported that the Dodgers "capped their offer to Soto at $600 million" before the star outfielder signed his 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets last winter.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported that the majority of MLB executives he talked to in April seemed to consider it "highly unlikely" that Tucker would sign an extension with the Cubs during the 2025 season.

“He’s likely to be the best player on the market by a decent margin; I can’t imagine him giving up the opportunity for a bidding war to potentially take place for his services,” an NL executive told Feinsand.

An AL executive, who also doubted the possibility of a midseason extension, meanwhile told Feinsand that Vladimir Guerrero's 14-year, $500 million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays would likely be considered the floor for Tucker.

Tucker led the AL with 112 RBI in 2023. He missed three months of the 2024 campaign with a fractured right shin, but still contributed 49 RBI in 78 games last season.

He has batted .269 with 10 home runs, tied for fourth among MLB's left-handed batters, through 41 games this season.

This is not the first time the Dodgers have been connected to a high-profile outfielder. Nightengale previously connected the Dodgers to a potential trade for the Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert Jr.

With Michael Conforto off to a slow start after signing a one-year deal with the Dodgers last offseason, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman could be looking to restructure his outfield by 2026.