The big boys all want to get involved for the biggest free agent.
There's plenty of reason to believe that Kyle Tucker and his impending $300 million-plus contract will end up with either the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets or the New York Yankees.
But each of those teams also has an issue that could prevent such a deal.
ESPN's Jeff Passan laid it out on Tuesday, pointing out the Dodgers' contract preferences and the New York teams' stars in right field already:
"Though Tucker makes sense for a Los Angeles Dodgers team in need of a productive outfield bat, sources said their interest is more likely to be on a high-dollar, shorter-term deal. Top free agents, particularly those Tucker's age (29 in January), rarely sacrifice years for dollars, making Los Angeles a longer shot. Tucker's desire to win, though, will be a guiding principle, keeping the New York Yankees and Mets -- despite the presence of their MVP-caliber right fielders, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto -- in the mix for the time being."
Passan goes on to suggest the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles as two alternatives for Tucker.
And he writes that the Chicago Cubs, who traded for Tucker just last offseason from the Houston Astros, aren't likely to be involved in the bidding for him now.
It ends up being quite the costly one-year rental for the Cubs, who gave up Cam Smith and Isaac Paredes for him.
Tucker's contract will likely reach 10 years or more, and it'll probably take some time to sort through the big bids that will come in.
More MLB news:
- Mariners' Jorge Polanco free agent plans encounter a road block
- Pirates' infielder leaving MLB to play in Japan
- Red Sox 'still kicking themselves' for 187-HR mistake