Dodgers' Kyle Tucker signing doesn't get perfect grade from ESPN for one reason

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Matt Sullivan
Dodgers' Kyle Tucker signing doesn't get perfect grade from ESPN for one reason image

The Los Angeles Dodgers stunned the Major League Baseball world when they signed Kyle Tucker to a massive $240 million, four-year deal.

It's also a move that's frustrating the rest of MLB, as the Dodgers continue to add to their already stacked roster. Now, if they weren't already favorites before, the Dodgers should be overwhelming favorites to win the World Series.

But, for ESPN's Bradford Doolittle, this $240 million signing didn't get a perfect grade. He's concerned about one thing, which bumps this grade down to an A-. Doolittle believes there are some red flags in Tucker's game, which lead him to not hand out a perfect grade.

Dodgers not given perfect grade for Kyle Tucker singing for one reason: Red flags

"I've soured a bit on Kyle Tucker over the past year," Doolittle writes. "... It's not so much that I don't think that Tucker is an outstanding player or doubt that he can help a team win... But I felt like some red flags emerged in his profile over the past couple of years..."

Doolittle believes that there are some red flags in Tucker's game, enough that he was concerned about a team offering him a long-term deal into his mid-30s.

The main red flag? That Tucker hasn't had a career-defining year yet. While he's been a consistent player in the Majors, being between 4.6 and 5.5 fWAR in the last five seasons, he's not once had a season above 5.5 fWAR.

More: Dodgers continue to frustrate all of MLB with major Kyle Tucker signing

That lack of demonstrated league-MVP ceiling is part of why Doolittle is concerned about this signing. Combined with the regression from Tucker in the second half of 2025 with the Chicago Cubs, Doolittle has a few things to be worried about.

This grade is still very high, and Doolittle believes it's a good signing from the Dodgers. But, as he noted, he's "soured" on Tucker a bit, thanks in part to the red flags in his game that Doolittle found.

While there is some risk involved with spending so much on Tucker, if there were any team that would be able to recover from this signing being a mistake, it would be the Dodgers.

Doolittle isn't handing out a perfect grade to the Dodgers for this signing, thanks to the red flags present in his game, with the lack of high ceiling and regression last season being two areas of concern. But, he still likes this deal a lot, and gave the Dodgers an A- for getting Tucker this offseason.

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