MLB analyst compares Kyle Tucker’s $400M pursuit to Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto as teams explore short-term deals

Having entered free agency off the back of a strong 2025 season, Kyle Tucker is one of the most coveted players on the market this winter. Reports claim the outfielder is looking for a massive contract offer, in the range of $400 million.

Although a number of franchises continue to keep tabs on Tucker, his contractual expectations appear to be a significant sticking point.

If things continue in the same vein, ESPN's Paul Hembekides is of the opinion that a short-term, high-AAV deal may be the perfect middle ground for both team and player.

"Absent Toronto offering a ten-year, $400 million contract, as has been discussed ad nauseam, I think there are two frameworks that some of these big market teams should atleast run by his camp to see if there's any interest at all," Hembekides said. "A one-plus-one, and a two-plus-two. Just as a reminder, he's going to play this year at 29. The one-plus-one that I wrote down is a two-year, $104 million contract. "That's $52 million annually, making him the second-highest paid player in baseball across those two years. I'm going to give you a player option after the 2026 season.The second one I wrote down, which might be even more palatable for the player, is a two-plus-two (deal). It's a four-year, $172 million contract. That pays him $43 million annually. That puts him behind (Shohei) Ohtani and (Juan) Soto. We're going to give you a player option after 2027."

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Paul Hembekides explained his thoughts behind these offers, and why the Astros should consider a reunion with Kyle Tucker

Further in the same conversation, Hembekides explained his thought process behind these hypothetical contract offers.

"The idea here is a very straightforward one, if we're a big market club that likes the idea of the player in the short-term, but not the long-term," Hembekides said (Timestamp: 1:05). "He's not a toolsy player. We'll use Kyle Schwarber as our example, who's just a hitter. "He (Schwarber) can lose a considerable amount of bat speed and still have a ton of impact. What is the seventh year of a Kyle Tucker looking like, when he's swinging the bat slower than nine out of ten guys in MLB? That is a definite concern, it seems."

Kyle Tucker during his time with the Astros - Source: Getty

He believes the Houston Astros should also consider pursuing Kyle Tucker under this framework.

"I think the Houston Astros should get back in the fray," Hembekides added (Timestamp: 1:38). "(Astros owner) Jim Crane uses the phrase 'boat anchors' to describe long-term contracts, but a one-plus-one or two-plus-two in a place where he is comfortable, known, and in a ballpark that perfectly matches his airpull, to me, makes all the sense in the world. This strikes me as an opportunity that could make sense for both parties."

During his first stint with the Astros, Kyle Tucker played a key role in helping the team win the 2022 World Series.

Edited by Raghav Mehta