About the Off-Season: Tuckered Out

About the Off-Season: Tuckered Out

By Tim Kabel

November 8, 2025

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It has begun. The daily onslaught of articles, podcasts, and radio broadcasts suggesting moves that the Yankees should make has started. It will continue unabated, until the roster is set, and the team is revamped in some fashion. The Yankees will be linked with practically every player in the world, whether it is someone they should sign via free agency, acquire in a trade, or wait until they are posted by their current team in Japan. It doesn't matter. The Yankees will be matched to everyone at some point or another during the off-season. I recently saw that they were connected to Kyle Tucker. I would not be surprised if the Yankees are soon matched to Forrest Tucker (only a few of us are old enough to know who he was).

The suggestions that the Yankees acquire Kyle Tucker are not new. They started last year when it was rumored that the Astros would trade him. They did trade him but not to the Yankees. They traded him to the Cubs. The Yankees traded for Cody Bellinger who was on the Cubs. That made room on the Cubs roster for Tucker. Circle of Life, Simba.

Now, both Tucker and Bellinger are free agents. The Yankees have been linked to Tucker more than Popeye was linked to spinach. On the surface, it makes sense. With both Bellinger and Trent Grisham leaving the Yankees via free agency, the Yankees would seemingly have openings. Tucker is a left-handed hitter with power. He plays the outfield. He will be 29 years old at the beginning of 2026. What is not to like?

Well, I hate to burst bubbles, but it's what I do. Tucker does play in the outfield, but he usually plays rightfield. In case you haven't noticed, the Yankees have a rather large fellow who plays rightfield. I suppose Tucker could move to leftfield. If not, Judge could move to leftfield. I would be strongly opposed to the latter move because Judge should have a claim on rightfield until he retires or is no longer able to effectively play the position. As far as leftfield goes, I think the Yankees are planning to have Jasson Dominguez man that position. At least they should be. Dominguez is seven years younger than Tucker and he has tremendous potential. Besides, he will cost far less in salary than Tucker because he is under team control.

Tucker does not play centerfield. At least he hasn't done so on a regular basis. The Yankees have Dominguez and Spencer Jones, both of whom have played centerfield. Jones is considered by many to be the best defensive centerfielder in the entire Yankees’ organization.

There is something else to consider. The Yankees are also linked to Cody Bellinger. That would involve re-signing him, since he played here in 2025. Not only did he play here, but he also played very well here. He had a better year than Tucker in 2025. Bellinger is only about eighteen months older than Tucker. Bellinger has flexibility defensively. He can play all three outfield positions and first base. He can play them all very well. In addition, Bellinger’s contract will most likely cost significantly less and be for a shorter period than Tuckers’. Bellinger has won an MVP. Tucker has not.

So, it basically comes down to Bellinger versus Tucker. Bellinger is a better player, who has more versatility as to which positions he can play, and he should cost a lot less in salary. I know that I and many others have advocated for the Yankees to spend money but it's not monopoly money. There are limits. The Yankees need to spend the money wisely.

As I suggested yesterday, the Yankees should sign Bellinger to play first base moving forward. If Spencer Jones struggles to the point of being unplayable in centerfield, Bellinger could always be moved to that position and the Yankees could call up TJ Rumfield or whomever else they have in the system to play first base. I don't think that Jones will struggle to that point. However, Bellinger’s flexibility makes him extremely valuable.

So, despite all the hoopla you are going to hear regarding Kyle Tucker, the Yankees should pass on him and Forrest Tucker too for that matter and re-sign Cody Bellinger. It will greatly improve the team and it will be a smarter and more financially responsible decision than bringing in Tucker.

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