The Greatest Suits For Kyle Tucker

Every offseason at MLBTR, we check out the potential markets for a number of the high names in free company. In 2025-26, there isn’t any higher place to start out than with the person who held the highest spot on our Free Agent Energy Rankings all season and once more took residence the highest spot on our annual High 50 Free Agent rankings: outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Chosen by the Astros with the No. 5 general decide again in 2015, Tucker has been an influence hitter relationship again to the 2019 season. He is slashed a mixed .276/.361/.514 in that point (141 wRC+) and hasn’t had any particular person season that is seen him test in “worse” than 21% higher than the typical hitter. That got here in 2019, his first partial season. Since 2021, Tucker has persistently proven sufficient pop to hit 30-plus homers. He is reached 25 steals thrice alongside the best way and frequently upped his stroll charge whereas additionally slicing his strikeout charge — a lot in order that Tucker has walked extra usually than he is fanned over the previous two seasons (15.3% to fifteen.2%).

Some bizarre, if not downright fluky accidents have hampered his status a bit. Tucker was enjoying at a full-fledged MVP degree in 2024 earlier than fouling a ball into his shin in mid-June. The Astros initially referred to as it a contusion after which a bone bruise. Tucker’s keep on the IL lingered for months, a lot to the chagrin of Houston followers who have been perplexed by how the said damage might take so lengthy to fix. Lastly, in September, the Astros revealed that Tucker had truly been identified with a fracture someplace alongside the best way. It was the kind of imprecise, puzzling and irritating damage absence that has develop into a recurring theme inside the Astros group.

An identical sequence performed out in 2025, following Tucker’s commerce to the Cubs. He was a behemoth within the season’s first three months, hitting .291/.396/.537 (157 wRC+) with 17 homers in his first 366 journeys to the plate. Tucker fell right into a deep stoop, and after a pair months it was reported that he’d truly suffered a small fracture in his hand again in June. He performed by means of it. Whether or not that damage was instantly accountable or not, Tucker nonetheless “struggled” (by his requirements) by means of July and August, batting a mixed .232/.363/.345 (109 wRC+). He suffered a calf pressure in early September and solely made it again for the season’s closing three video games. Tucker homered within the playoffs and usually hit effectively by means of 32 plate appearances.

It is not the kind of huge platform 12 months a high free agent would need, however Tucker has been 43% higher than common, by measure of wRC+, relationship again to 2021. He is traditionally been an above-average proper fielder. Tucker has made 4 All-Star groups, received two Silver Slugger Awards and likewise has a Gold Glove to his credit score. When he is wholesome, there’s nothing he would not do effectively. He’ll additionally hit the market forward of his age-29 season.

A deal simply topping $400MM would possibly’ve been the expectation had Tucker stayed wholesome and maintained the manufacturing he posted by means of late June. The query now could be extra about whether or not he can attain the $400MM mark or whether or not he’ll …. “solely” … are available in with a deal within the mid-300s.

We all know a number of the groups which might be going to be pursuing Tucker, however let’s run by means of his likeliest touchdown spots, primarily based on roster composition and payroll outlook, and see if there are any viable darkish horse candidates to deliver him aboard.

Identified/Possible Suitors (listed alphabetically)

Blue Jays: The Blue Jays will most likely prioritize retaining Bo Bichette firstly, not desirous to let a preferred homegrown star escape after they have ample long-term payroll house. Executives, brokers and pundits alike all count on an lively winter from Toronto after the Jays got here simply two outs from profitable their first World Collection in additional than three a long time, nonetheless.

It sounds loopy, however the Jays most likely have the payroll house so as to add each gamers long-term. Clearly, that is not a seemingly situation, however it would not be all that dissimilar from the Rangers’ half-billion greenback spending spree 4 years in the past, when Texas signed Corey Seager ($325MM), Marcus Semien ($175MM) and Jon Grey ($56MM) all in the identical offseason.