“No Heavy Lifting”: Andrew Friedman’s Pragmatism Pours Cold Water on the Kyle Tucker Mega-Deal

Fresh off the successful signing of elite closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract, Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman is now facing intense speculation linking the team to the last remaining top free agent: World Series champion outfielder Kyle Tucker.

However, Friedman’s comments following the Díaz signing have been interpreted by league insiders as a clear, philosophical cold shower on the notion that the Dodgers will engage in the bidding war necessary to land Tucker on a long-term contract.

The core of Friedman’s position rests on two statements that underscore his commitment to long-term financial flexibility over short-term star acquisition, despite the team’s massive resources:

1. “Not as much heavy lifting required.” Friedman suggested to reporters that the Dodgers do not need to repeat the massive, organization-altering spending of previous winters (which secured Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Glasnow). This signals a desire to move to a period of stability and internal development.

2. Ambiguity on Future Splashes: When asked if the team could pursue another major signing, Friedman stated, “I would say we definitely can. How likely is it? That’s another question.” This cryptic response suggests that while the capability exists, the prudence of the move is the real hurdle.

These comments directly clash with the contract demands of Kyle Tucker, who is projected to command a deal of eight years or more, totaling around $400 million, from teams like the Yankees or Blue Jays.

The Friedman Wall: Why the $400M Deal Will Not Happen

Andrew Friedman’s success has been built on an unwavering commitment to two core principles that simply preclude a nine-year deal for a 29-year-old outfielder:

1. The Avoidance of “Bad” Later Years

The Dodgers have consistently refused to pay for a player’s decline phase. The nine- and ten-year contracts common in the league guarantee paying star-level salaries for ages 35, 36, and beyond—years when production almost inevitably drops off. Friedman’s strategy is to pay a massive AAV premium for a player’s prime years but avoid the anchor of late-career salary.

• The Blueprint: The Díaz deal (three years, $23M AAV) and the rumored Alex Bregman contract (three years, $40M AAV with the Red Sox) are the perfect examples of this philosophy. They pay for elite production in the short term while keeping the books clean for future top-tier free agents, which aligns with the fact that the Dodgers have elite young outfielders like Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope waiting in the wings. Signing Tucker long-term would block their path.

2. Roster Flexibility for the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT)

The Dodgers are already operating well above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, and every dollar committed is taxed at a high rate. The long-term philosophy is to create “financial pockets” by ensuring that only core assets like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have decade-long deals.

• The Ohtani Exception: Shohei Ohtani’s massive deferred contract was the exception that proved the rule, allowing the Dodgers to acquire a generational talent while minimizing the immediate CBT impact. Tucker’s contract will not offer similar deferrals and would act as an immediate, heavy drag on the payroll well into the 2030s.

The “Sneaky” Deal That Could Work

If Kyle Tucker were to sign with the Dodgers, it would be a direct rejection of the mega-deal offered by other teams.

As reported by league insiders, the only path for Tucker to land in Los Angeles is on the Dodgers’ terms: a shorter, high-AAV contract that maximizes his annual pay while allowing him to hit free agency again at age 32.

• Dodgers’ Ideal Offer: Four years, $140 million ($35M AAV).

• The Player’s Choice: Tucker would have to decide if the chance to win multiple rings, play in the Los Angeles market, and get a second major payday outweighs the immediate financial security of a life-changing eight- or nine-year contract.

The public comments from Andrew Friedman confirm that the Dodgers are happy with their roster and are not desperate enough to break their core financial tenets. The “heavy lifting” is over. Unless Kyle Tucker is willing to meet the Dodgers on their philosophical terms, the $400 million star is headed for a different contender.