Rival executives believe that top free-agent outfielder will join SF Giants division rivals

Where will Kyle Tucker land this offseason? If the early offseason chatter is true, the SF Giants will see a lot of him over the next several years. Bob Nightengale of USA Today spoke to rival executives who believe that Tucker will land with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rival executives believe that top free-agent outfielder will join SF Giants division rivals

Last week, Jeff Passan of ESPN lightly suggested that the Giants could be a landing spot for Tucker. Nightengale's report would have him coming to the NL West, just not in San Francisco.

Tucker is looking to land a sizable payday in free agency, and will be the top free agent on the market. He is in the midst of a solid year, hitting .270/.381/.472 (139 wRC+) with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 89 runs in 585 plate appearances. This includes a 14.7 percent walk rate, 14.7 percent strikeout rate, and .202 ISO.

The left-handed bat has not been quite as strong in the second half. He has a .777 OPS in 162 plate appearances during that time. The dip in production is likely due to a hairline fracture he sustained while sliding into second base in a game against the Cincinnati Reds on June 1.

While there has been a dip in production, Tucker has a great track record in his favor. This includes an .867 career OPS while hitting at least 20 home runs in five consecutive seasons.

Tucker is poised to be the highest-paid player in free agency this winter. That type of deal would rule out much of the league. Realistically, the big-market clubs are the only teams that will spend at the level that the 28-year-old outfielder is looking to earn.

Of course, the Giants could be part of this mix. The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies are mentioned as potential landing spots in Jeff Passan's report. Perhaps, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will be included in that market. The San Diego Padres might be an option, too, but they have been scaling back payroll in recent seasons.

The Dodgers would be a frustrating landing spot for a lot of reasons. They already have a star-studded roster. It would be good for baseball if Tucker lands elsewhere.

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