Jeff Passan doubles down on SF Giants' Kyle Tucker pursuit as Dodgers fade

The top free agent on the market this winter is going to be outfielder Kyle Tucker. While it has often seemed like his exorbitant price tag would scare away the SF Giants, MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN thinks the Giants could make sense.

In his most recent column, he writes: "Other teams that could make sense for Tucker include the San Francisco Giants (who have the payroll flexibility.)" He is not exactly predicting that Tucker will sign with the Giants, but he at least thinks they have a chance.

MLB insider Jeff Passan thinks SF Giants have a chance at Kyle Tucker

Meanwhile, Passan is reporting that the Los Angeles Dodgers may not be the best suitors for Tucker. In that same column he writes: "Though Tucker makes sense for a Los Angeles Dodgers team in need of a productive outfield bat, sources said their interest is more likely to be on a high-dollar, shorter-term deal. Top free agents, particularly those Tucker's age (29 in January), rarely sacrifice years for dollars, making Los Angeles a longer shot."

The Dodgers have been linked to Tucker which has certainly elicited eye rolls and groans from many fans across baseball as the thought of the adding yet another huge player to an already fully operational Death Star makes the stomach churn. Passan's reporting at least makes them seem like a less likely destination.

The Giants still seem unlikely to seriously pursue Tucker even if they do make sense on paper. The Giants certainly have an open spot in right field and Tucker would be a huge upgrade to the lineup, but the Giants have been very open about the fact that they are going to be mainly pursuing pitching this offseason.

Giants chairman Greg Johnson has already thrown cold water on the idea of the Giants giving a nine-figure contract to a pitcher, so it seems unlikely that they are going to splurge on a position player who some think could make something approaching $400 million in free agency.

Maybe the Giants could be considered a dark horse for Tucker, but the most likely outcome is probably that they will make more of a minor upgrade in right field or may instead try to go with their young players like Luis Matos and Drew Gilbert.

If Passan is right though, at least it seems like the Dodgers may not be as big of players for Tucker. You never know with LA, but the last thing the Giants need is them widening the talent gap even more.