Dodgers Buzz Fades as Yankees Emerge in Bombshell $650M Star Bidding War

The Yankees are still feeling the sting of getting outbid by the Mets for Juan Soto. And judging by this season, it’s clear how much they miss having a reliable lefty bat to complement Aaron Judge. That’s why the buzz heading into the offseason is that the Yankees are ready to go all in on a proven veteran, and this time, they might be willing to break the bank. The only problem?

They’ll likely have to get past the Dodgers to make it happen. But let’s be honest, we all know what it looks like when the Yankees decide to flex those deep pockets. And the name being floated around? Cubs star Tyler Tucker. Yes, the slugger whom MLB insider Jim Bowden termed as “the highest paid free agent in this class.” According to him, “Tucker will get somewhere between $500 million and $650 million.” But still, the Yankees are ready to splash through the rain.

“AL East rivals, the Yankees and Red Sox, could go toe-to-toe for Tucker… Now, how do I see this playing out? I think a bidding war erupts between his current team, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Yankees. A team that just last off-season lost out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes will challenge itself, motivate themselves to not come in second again, with Kyle Tucker, as they get into a bidding war with the Cubs. And I believe in the end, the New York Yankees will win that bidding war,” MLB analyst Jim Riley said on his YouTube channel.

Well, the Yankees are clinging to the top AL wild card spot with just weeks left in the regular season. That’s all thanks to key pickups like Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams. However, this year’s squad doesn’t feel quite as dangerous as last season’s version at the same stage, but the Yankees once again proved they’ll always reload when stars walk out the door.

And here comes Tucker. He is about to hit free agency, and he’ll instantly become one of the most sought-after names on the market. Big-market contenders will be lining up, and you can bet the Yankees will be in the mix. Their offense has still been strong even without Soto, but a letdown season that has them settling for a wild card might push the franchise to take a hard look in the mirror and swing big for a star like Tucker (.270).

A classic Yankees-Dodgers rivalry is brewing up

Well, we all love to witness the Yankees-Dodgers rivalry with all their star-studded lineups. However, this time, the Yankees would fight it out with the Dodgers beyond the foul line for Tucker. According to Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, Kyle Tucker could get into the Dodgers’ 2026 starting lineup. And honestly, it makes a lot of sense. How?

The Dodgers never hesitate to open their bank for a superstar, and with right field production dipping after Mookie Betts shifted to shortstop full-time, Tucker looks like a perfect fit. But for that move to work, the Dodgers would need to shuffle things around. For instance, Andy Pages is in the middle of a breakout year, so it’s hard to imagine them pushing him aside. That leaves Tommy Edman, who could slide back into the infield. And with Ha-Seong Kim carving out a bigger role and looking like an everyday option at second, the logical play would be moving Edman to third.

For that to happen, though, the Dodgers would probably have to decline Max Muncy’s $10 million option. Thus, clearing the path for Edman at third and Tucker to take over in right field. Possible, if the Yankees don’t throw the spanner in their works!