“….No. 1 free agent in this year’s class will end up on the No. 1 team in the land….”, Mark Feinsand said after seeing the poll done by MLB.com to ask voters where the Cubs star would go this free agent. And 50 percent of the voters voted for the Dodgers. Earlier, Jon Heyman of the New York Post also predicted that the Dodgers could sign the No.1 free agent.

Yes, we are talking about Kyle Tucker, who is predicted to sign a $450M deal in free agency by Mike Axisa. Now, the Dodgers have the money to spend, and Kyle Tucker’s addition will only raise the value of their star-studded roster. However, Bob Nightangle thinks the Jays will foil Dave Roberts’ probable plan to sign Tucker. If it happens, then this will be the first win for the Jays after losing Game 7 to the Dodgers.

So, why is it predicted to see Kyle Tucker with the Jays when it looks unrealistic to spend such an amount specifically, after giving a $500 million deal to Vladimir Guerrero Jr last year?

Bo Bichette is on free agency after being with the Jays since 2019. “I’ve said I want to be here from the beginning,” Bichette told CBS Sports when asked about his future, but his next move remains uncertain.

Then Kevin Gausman, whose complete game shutout against the Astros on September 11 helped the Jays to win with 10-0 numbers, will hit free agency after 2026. With Gausman George Springer, who is under a six-year, $150 million deal which will run through the 2026 season, will also hit the free agency after that. Gausman admitted, “We’ve got a lot of guys making good money too,” acknowledging the team’s heavy payroll.

So, the Jays will have a large amount of payroll space, and with financial stability combined with the mental sting of not getting the World Series title, could force the team to do a vital move like getting Kyle Tucker.

So, now the question is why Tucker is considered no 1 free agent? The answer lies in his 2025 performance. He is not only the NL Silver Slugger award winner, but is also named to his career’s fourth ALL-star selection. He hit his career’s 10th home run against the Mets on 9th May. Because of a left calf strain, Tucker was placed on the 10-day injured list on 6th September. Despite his injuries, he delivered a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 73 RBIs and 22 home runs. His OPS this season was .841 and in the race of NL outfielders, this OPS was ranked third-best.

His best time came in June when he slashed .311/.404/.578 with an OPS of .982 and 13 RBIs. So, such a performance will definitely lead you to such a position where MLB’s best teams start to fight to get you.

When everyone is talking about the Dodgers and the Jays, another analyst at USA Today thinks the Yankees would be the team that will snatch Tucker from free agency.

The Yankees emerge as a fit for Tucker

MLB trade rumor reported that Tucker received and “will reject a qualifying offer, so he’ll be attached to draft compensation….That doesn’t matter much for free agents of this caliber. The Cubs would need to shatter their franchise-record $184MM precedent to keep him, which seems unlikely. The Yankees, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Phillies all make sense as potential suitors.

The Giants, Angels or Mets could be in the mix but might focus on starting pitching, while the Rangers seem unlikely to spend at this level.” So, every big market team is going to bid for him. However, Gabe Lacques predicts that Kyle Tucker will join the Yankees.

Aaron Boone’s team has a history largely of free agents and they have handed out lucrative deals to stars like Carlos Rodon, Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. The star’s power bat and speed. He has also hit over 30 home runs and stolen 30 bases in a season. Tucker’s left-handed power will also fit effectively at Yankee Stadium. And also, at the stadium, the right-field wall is closer to help hit more balls.

So, not only the teams, but Tucker also has some tough decisions coming up. Now, only time will tell where the No. 1 free agent builds his next home.