The Los Angeles Dodgers added a lot of talent after their latest World Series championship, but they haven’t all worked out so far.
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell only made a pair of starts before hitting the injured list. Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki has struggled with his command in his stateside debut. And outfielder Michael Conforto is batting just .139.
As Conforto’s slump at the plate extended in a recent matchup against the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, he admitted his performance so far has been concerning.
“I’m definitely frustrated,” he admitted, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris. “It’s frustrating. It makes me sick.”
Dodgers fans could be feeling the same way, but they might not have to stick with Conforto for much longer. After signing a one-year, $17 million deal to join the Dodgers, Conforto might see the team part ways with him after this season. And USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported they have made a decision concerning a blockbuster replacement.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to jump into the free-agent fray for (Chicago) Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker this winter,” Nightengale wrote. “They may not be the high bidder, but they’ll surely keep everyone honest just as they did when they were in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.”
Tucker would be a significant addition to the Dodgers’ batting order, even though it already features the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. He has earned All-Star bids in each of the past three seasons and is slashing .276/.387/.545 with 10 homers, 32 RBI and 10 steals so far for the first-place Cubs.
Without an extension from the Cubs, Tucker will become the most coveted free agent in all of baseball at the end of the season. ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently projected Tucker’s next contract to reach the $500 million range.
And while the Dodgers probably wouldn’t be able to offer him as much money as any other team, they can offer the best chance to compete for a World Series.
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