MLB insider: Kyle Tucker's 'motor and desire' similar to former Yankees bust

Conor Liguori

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MLB insider: Kyle Tucker's 'motor and desire' similar to former Yankees bust image

Outfielder Kyle Tucker is the top player available among Major League Baseball's free agents this offseason. 

Tucker, soon to be 29, could command a contract of around $400-500 million this winter. Reportedly interested clubs include the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees. 

Despite Tucker's obvious talent, the New York Post's Joel Sherman said on a recent episode of "Pinstripe Post" that MLB teams are concerned about Tucker's "motor and desire" as he moves forward in his career. 

"It's one of the questions I wonder about Kyle Tucker," said Sherman. "Does Tucker burn to play? I know Cody Bellinger burns to play. I think there are some questions about the motor and the desire of someone like Tucker. That's something organizations have expressed to me." 

Sherman recalled that he didn't think that former Yankees free agent bust Jacoby Ellsbury did not "burn to play" baseball during his 11-year career. 

Will Sherman's words affect Tucker's market? 

If MLB organizations are wary of Tucker's drive, Bellinger is the next best outfielder on the market. 

Regardless, Tucker's talent and recent production are equivalent to those of a player many clubs want in their lineup. Many of the same teams linked to Tucker have also been linked to Bellinger. 

The Yankees would love to avoid another disaster like the Ellsbury contract, but their left-field depth is thin. As of today, youngsters Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones are the top candidates to receive hefty playing time at the corner outfield spot. 

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News Correspondent