The Dodgers have a Kyle Tucker problem, and it’s getting harder to ignore.
Los Angeles handed Tucker a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason, expecting a centerpiece bat to help drive another title push. Instead, the four-time All-Star has delivered a rough first year in blue, one marked by a .221/.321/.350 line, 12 home runs and a career-worst .671 OPS.
The numbers are bad enough on their own. The rest of the package has only made the situation uglier. Tucker has, at times, drifted in right field and piled up defensive miscues, while his lack of hustle on the bases has also drawn concern.
That’s why FanSided’s Christopher Kline suggested Tuesday that the Dodgers should think about a drastic move before the postseason.
"If the Dodgers want to get truly bold, top prospects Josue De Paula or especially James Tibbs III could be ready to contribute for the stretch run. Both are incredibly productive in the Minors, with real power and poise at the plate," Kline wrote.
"Tucker looks lost at sea, and his body language is unacceptable, but the Dodgers are the one team in baseball designed to survive a misspent nine-figure salary," he added.
Of course, sitting a player with Tucker’s track record and salary is no small call. When he’s locked in, he can still change a lineup in a hurry. That’s part of what made the Dodgers’ investment so easy to understand in the first place.
But this season has been the opposite of what they bought. Tucker posted 4.5 bWAR with the Chicago Cubs last year. In Los Angeles, that figure has fallen to -0.1 bWAR.
The Dodgers clearly expected more when they committed that kind of money, believing Tucker could help lead them toward a third straight World Series. Right now, though, he’s not just underperforming. He’s actively hurting them.
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The timing matters because the Dodgers are not simply looking for a useful September bat or glove, they are trying to learn whether Freeland can factor into their plans beyond 2026. His results this month could carry real weight in how the organization views his future role, and for a player trying to secure a longer runway in a crowded organization, every at-bat and every inning now feels like part of a much larger test. [Read more 🡒]