Dodgers’ Tucker Faces Tough Season Following Big Contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines by signing Kyle Tucker to a hefty four-year, $240 million contract in the offseason, which secures him the second-highest average salary in MLB history. While a chunk of that—$30 million—will be deferred, it’s still a significant amount, especially considering Tucker’s mixed performance during his time with the Chicago Cubs. He had a remarkable first half but fell apart in the latter half of the season.

This season, Tucker has not lived up to expectations and has had an especially rough stretch recently. During a game against the Colorado Rockies, he made headlines for dropping a fly ball, which sparked boos from even the home crowd. The video of that moment drew a lot of attention.

It’s not catastrophic when the Dodgers are leading significantly—10-1, in this case—but as the playoffs approach, his struggles could become more pressing. Tucker’s batting average has slipped drastically, going 0-for-23 and concluding a homestand with a dismal 0-for-19. His overall performance at Dodger Stadium has been less than stellar, with a wRC+ of 60 at home compared to 126 on the road. It’s little wonder fans are expressing their frustration.

Just before playing the Rockies, the Dodgers had stumbled, losing three out of four games at home to major competitors like the Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately for Tucker, his defensive performance during a recent loss was lackluster. It seems his batting difficulties are starting to affect his overall game.

He certainly appeared distressed during that game. The weight of his contract and the high expectations surrounding the Dodgers seem to be adding to his struggles. This year, in 234 at-bats at Dodger Stadium, he’s managed to hit just .189 with an OPS of .558. Oddly enough, he’s fared better away from home, posting an OPS of .822.

Things have been so chaotic for Tucker that he even took a hit to the head from a beam while an opposing catcher was attempting to return the ball to the mound.

Looking ahead, Tucker’s base salary will surge from $33 million to $87 million next year. The Dodgers brought him in as a safeguard against the potential decline in performance from veteran players Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Ironically, while Freeman is thriving, both Tucker and Betts have had their fair share of challenges. At least Betts has provided some minimal value in this scenario.

It seems remarkable to Cubs MVP candidate Pete Crow Armstrong that Tucker, just on one night, accumulated more fWAR than he recorded all season. If free agents with such expensive contracts are struggling to this degree, it raises concerns for other teams. While the Dodgers can still count on the talents of Shohei Ohtani and their formidable pitching staff, anything less than a World Series victory will not meet expectations.

As for Tucker, he’s facing a rough patch that he needs to overcome quickly, especially with playoffs looming just around the corner.