Every offseason at MLBTR, we check out the potential markets for among the prime names in free company. In 2025-26, there isn’t any higher place to begin than with the person who held the highest spot on our Free Agent Energy Rankings all season and once more took house the highest spot on our annual Prime 50 Free Agent rankings: outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Chosen by the Astros with the No. 5 total choose again in 2015, Tucker has been an affect 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 examine in “worse” than 21% higher than the typical hitter. That got here in 2019, his first partial season. Since 2021, Tucker has constantly proven sufficient pop to hit 30-plus homers. He is reached 25 steals 3 times alongside the best way and frequently upped his stroll charge whereas additionally chopping his strikeout charge — a lot in order that Tucker has walked extra typically than he is fanned over the previous two seasons (15.3% to fifteen.2%).
Some bizarre, if not downright fluky accidents have hampered his popularity a bit. Tucker was enjoying at a full-fledged MVP stage 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 acknowledged harm 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 obscure, puzzling and irritating harm absence that has change into a recurring theme throughout the Astros group.
An analogous 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 droop, and after a pair months it was reported that he’d truly suffered a small fracture in his hand again in June. He performed via it. Whether or not that harm was instantly accountable or not, Tucker nonetheless “struggled” (by his requirements) via 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 last three video games. Tucker homered within the playoffs and customarily hit nicely via 32 plate appearances.
It isn’t the kind of huge platform 12 months a prime 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, gained two Silver Slugger Awards and in addition has a Gold Glove to his credit score. When he is wholesome, there’s nothing he does not do nicely. He’ll additionally hit the market forward of his age-29 season.
A deal simply topping $400MM may’ve been the expectation had Tucker stayed wholesome and maintained the manufacturing he posted via 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 with a deal within the mid-300s.
We all know among the groups which are going to be pursuing Tucker, however let’s run via his likeliest touchdown spots, primarily based on roster composition and payroll outlook, and see if there are any viable darkish horse candidates to carry him aboard.
Identified/Seemingly Suitors (listed alphabetically)
Blue Jays:Â The Blue Jays will most likely prioritize retaining Bo Bichette initially, not eager to let a well-liked homegrown star escape once they have ample long-term payroll area. Executives, brokers and pundits alike all count on an lively winter from Toronto after the Jays got here simply two outs from successful their first World Collection in additional than three many years, nonetheless.
It sounds loopy, however the Jays most likely have the payroll area so as to add each gamers long-term. Clearly, that is not a probably state of affairs, but it surely 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.
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