MLB Rumors: Red Sox Tied To Top Free Agent But NL Contender Is Frontrunner

How much is Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow willing to spend when free agency starts after the 2025 World Series?

If Breslow is ready to open the vault, he could land the top position player on the open market: Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Problem is, the Red Sox won’t be alone in chasing Tucker. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported several heavyweight National League contenders will be in the mix as well.

Kyle Tucker Contenders

“I do expect the Dodgers to be in on Tucker,” Heyman said on a live chat for Bleacher Report. “I think any big market team could go for Tucker.”

But wait. There’s more from Heyman.

“Giants in on Tucker? Yeah I see the Giants, Red Sox, potentially the Mets for Tucker but to me the Dodgers make a lot of sense,” Heyman added.

“I think the Giants are another team that’s very, very logical for Tucker. I can see the Red Sox, even thought they have the logjam in the outfield. They could end up trading Jarren Duran or somebody else. Maybe the Phillies in on Tucker potentially. Gotta be a big-market team,” Heyman concluded.

Do Red Sox Make Sense?

Heyman has a point on the Red Sox roster. Boston already has a crowded outfield with Duran, Roman Anthony , Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida.

But Heyman believes Tucker, 28, could be worth the effort for the Red Sox.

Tucker has hit at least 22 home runs in each of the last five seasons. The four-time All-Star won a Gold Glove Award in 2022 and Silver Slugger Award in 2023. In fact, Tucker finished fifth in voting for American League MVP in 2023 after driving in a career-high and league-leading 112 runs.

The Red Sox’s potential interest in Tucker could depend on whether the club re-signs third baseman Alex Bregman, who will command a nine-figure salary.

Boston also has been linked to New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who also wants a nine-figure payday.