There is one name that has topped free agent lists this winter in Major League Baseball: outfielder Kyle Tucker. Entering the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies were one of the teams mentioned as potential suitors for Tucker.
But things look drastically different now than they did at the start of the offseason. The Phillies have signed Kyle Schwarber to a $150 million deal and Adolis Garcia to a $10 million deal. After those two moves, do the Phillies still have interest in Tucker?
As ESPN's David Schoenfield noted, the Phillies are likely out on Tucker this winter thanks to both of those signings. Despite the Phillies' need in the outfield, even after the Garcia and Schwarber deals, Tucker is likely off the table.
Why the Phillies aren't likely to sign Kyle Tucker
Dave Dombrowski, during the press conference announcing the Garcia signing, said that the outfield is "pretty much set." While this leaves open the door for some potential moves, those would likely come in the form of a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh.
Singing a superstar like Tucker is not likely. Schwarber's $150 million deal is likely the only big-money contract the Phillies hand out, while Garcia is the Phillies' outfield addition this winter.
As Schoenfield writes, "The Phillies crossed off their top agenda item, re-signing Kyle Schwarber, and then filled a hole in the outfield with a one-year deal for Adolis Garcia."
More: Rangers' JT Realmuto free agent rumor is good news for Phillies
While the Phillies could use a major upgrade like Tucker, the payroll plans for the Phillies don't allow for such a massive contract, especially one Schoenfield projects to be $418 million, to be added to the books.
Tucker would be a great addition in a vacuum, but the Phillies payroll plans don't allow for the superstar former Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros outfielder to sign in Philadelphia.
For any Phillies fans hoping that Kyle Tucker could still wind up coming to Philadelphia after the team signed Schwarber, those hopes are all but squashed in the week leading up to Christmas.
More Phillies news:
- Phillies 'more likely than ever' to trade disgruntled $100 million All-Star
- Phillies receiving trade interest from Mariners on $7.5 million lefty reliever
- Phillies offseason rumor spells bad news for Alec Bohm's future in Philadelphia
- Phillies predicted to replace Ranger Suarez with in-house righty
- Phillies get good news on Tatsuya Imai's free agency interest