LOS ANGELES — With multiple offers in free agency, Kyle Tucker was ultimately swayed by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ championship pedigree.
«It’s a big decision, so you still got to weigh out everything,» he said, «but this team and this city and the fanbase kind of makes it a little bit easier to make some decisions. That is just ultimately what we wanted to do is come here and be part of that and try to win another World Series.»
Tucker signed a $240 million, four-year contract, choosing the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers over the New York Mets and World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays. He can opt out after years two and three.
«Obviously, we started lower,» joked Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. «It doesn’t mean that it has to be two, three, four years here. It could be longer than that. For him to choose us when he had other longer term and other shorter term, I think speaks to the growth and progress that we’ve made on creating a destination spot.»
Houston Astros and during his lone season with the Chicago Cubs last year. Roberts wears No. 30 in honor of Dodgers star Maury Wills, his mentor.
Tucker said he chose 23 in honor of his former Astros teammate Michael Brantley, who wore the number before retiring in 2022. They won the World Series that year, although Brantley was sidelined during the postseason.
Tucker has been criticized for a perceived casual playing style. Last August, he got booed by Cubs fans for not running out ground balls and lacking intensity. He acknowledged he might be perceived that way because of «a little bit of my demeanor.»
«I try to do my best out there regardless of how I feel or what the situation is,» he said.
The Dodgers sought out clubhouse personnel, training staff, teammates and coaches to find out about Tucker’s competitive makeup and work ethic.
«His demeanor is such that it’s not an outward exuberant personality, and so I think that can be misconstrued,» Friedman said. «For us, it’s about how does he compete, how does he work? For that we got very comfortable that when he’s in the box, when he’s in the outfield, he competes as well as anybody.»
Roberts did his own vetting of Tucker with other managers and coaches.
«There’s an inner fire that I’ve seen,» he said.
Tucker, the NL starter in right in last summer’s All-Star Game, assured the Dodgers he wants to continue to improve.
«He talked about that a lot, of how much he cares about the finer points,» Friedman said. «Anything we have that can help him get better in any regard — whether it’s on defense, on the bases, in the batter’s box — he’s like, ‘I’m all for it.’ So having a guy who has achieved what he has, but still have that kind of growth mindset, those are guys that make it easier.»
Roberts said he believes Tucker is a potential MVP candidate with the ability to win another Gold Glove.
«Having a lot of people around him, there’s more runs scored in there. I think he’s going to have the ability to drive in runs,» Roberts said. «He’s a five-tool player, he loves to compete, he loves to play the game, he pours into the community, he’s a smart player.»
