Kyle Tucker signing cements it: Dodgers are MLB's real Evil Empire
- - Kyle Tucker signing cements it: Dodgers are MLB's real Evil Empire
Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY January 16, 2026 at 5:36 AM
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The Evil Empire now resides in Los Angeles.
The powerful, formidable Dodgers, who have now become Exhibit 1-A in MLB’s argument that baseball needs a salary cap.
If it wasn’t enough that they have won two consecutive World Series championships.
If it wasn’t enough that they already landed the best closer in baseball in Edwin Diaz.
They now signed the best darn player in the entire free agent class, paying him a mind-blowing salary.
They signed four-time All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker to a stunning four-year, $240 million deal, with opt-outs after the second and third years.
Yes, you read that right.
$60 million a year.
The only person who is earning more in baseball history is Shohei Ohtani at $70 million, and $68 million of his salary is deferred.
And Tucker won’t be bringing in over $100 million in endorsements and revenue like Ohtani.
The Dodgers now have eight players earning in excess of $100 million, from Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal to Tyler Glasnow’s five-year, $136,562,500 contract. They now will have a payroll exceeding a record $413 million.
1 / 11Kyle Tucker joins Dodgers: A look at four-time All-Star's MLB careerIn 2025, Kyle Tucker spent one season with the Chicago Cubs. He had a .266 batting average with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs.
It was a staggering deal for Tucker considering it looked like a two-team race between the New York Mets’ 4-year, $200 million proposal and the Toronto Blue Jays’ long-term offer in excess of $300 million.
The Dodgers blew everyone out of the water, and 2½ months before the season-opener, are easily the favorite to win the World Series again.
Come on, you’re talking about a lineup that goes Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tucker, Will Smith, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman and Andy Pages.
Can anyone compete with that?
Anyone?
Anyone?
The Dodgers are the heavy, heavy, heavy favorites to win their third consecutive World Series championship with the largest payroll in MLB history.
The Dodgers don’t have a single flaw.
They needed a closer, so they signed Diaz, the best reliever in the game.
They needed another outfielder, so they signed the best outfielder on the market.
Who can possibly beat them?
How about, nobody!
Now that Tucker is out of the picture, it will be fascinating if the Blue Jays now turn their attention to bringing back Bo Bichette, and the Yankees double down in their efforts to re-sign Cody Bellinger.
The free-agent logjam is clear.
The path to the World Series suddenly has road blocks as high as the Empire State Building.
The Dodgers are a filthy-rich juggernaut.
They won’t be stopped.
But they will be the top example used for owners to demand a salary cap.
The Dodgers don’t care.
They’ve got another World Series parade to plan.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker cements LA as MLB's Evil Empire
Source: “AOL Sports”
