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Star outfielder Kyle Tucker reportedly agrees to four-year deal with Dodgers

Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker (30) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run.
Kyle Tucker celebrates after hitting a solo home run for the Chicago Cubs against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS on Oct. 9. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)

For the second time in as many months, the Dodgers swooped in to secure a major free-agent signing.

After weighing multiple offers this week, outfielder Kyle Tucker reportedly agreed to a four-year, $240-million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday.

Tucker, who reportedly had been offered $50-million per year by the New York Mets and received overtures from the Toronto Blue Jays, is a four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger whose left-handed bat will fit into the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup.

Read more:One last roundup for Clayton Kershaw: He'll pitch in World Baseball Classic

The signing addresses an area where the Dodgers were in need of an upgrade, after the outfield corps posted minus-1.6 wins above replacement in 2025.

But the question heading into the offseason was how the Dodgers would go about improving their outfield. Although they had plenty of financial flexibility at the start of the offseason, with more than $60 million in salary from last season coming off the books, the front office also touted potential internal options. Some of those included Alex Call, Hyeseong Kim and Ryan Ward, who was named the Pacific Coast League’s MVP in 2025 and was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason.

The team used that flexibility to make a splash last month when they signed reliever Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69-million deal, emerging as a surprise winner after Díaz appeared on track to sign elsewhere.

They seemingly followed a similar pattern with Tucker, who spent last year with the Chicago Cubs after he was traded by the Houston Astros following the 2024 season. When reports emerged about the Mets offering a short-term deal worth $50 million per year, the Dodgers appeared to be out of the running.

Read more:Why $100 million in endorsements says Shohei Ohtani is the global face of sport

But instead they landed another marquee free-agent signing in Tucker, who turns 29 on Saturday. They are banking on the productivity he's shown when healthy — he's a career .273 hitter with an .865 OPS — but he's dealt with injuries the last two seasons. With the Cubs in 2025, Tucker hit .280 with 17 home runs before the all-star break, but a fractured right hand and a left calf strain slowed him down as he finished with 22 home runs. He served as the Cubs' designated hitter during their postseason run, which ended in a five-game loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the division series.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Sarah Strong leads top-ranked UConn to 34th straight win, 99-50 over Villanova

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Sarah Strong had 24 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, and top-ranked UConn extended its winning streak to 34 games with a 99-50 blowout of Villanova on Thursday night.

Azzi Fudd had 14 points, KK Arnold tied her season high with 13 points to go seven assists and four steals, and Blanca Quinonez added 13 points as UConn (18-0, 9-0 Big East) won its 47th consecutive regular-season league game.

Freshman Kennedy Henry had 12 points and three of the eight 3-pointers by Villanova (14-4, 7-2). Brynn McCurry scored 11 points for the Wildcats, who shot a season-low 27.7% from the field.

Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova’s top scorer, was held to eight points, all in the first half.

NO. 2 SOUTH CAROLINA 68, NO. 4 TEXAS 65

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Joyce Edwards had 14 points and eight rebounds, Tessa Johnson added 13 points and South Carolina avenged its only loss this season by beating Texas for its 11th straight victory.

Ta’Niya Latson scored 12 points and Raven Johnson came up with some big shots down the stretch, scoring six of her 10 points in the pivotal fourth quarter for the Gamecocks (18-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference).

Madison Booker had 24 points and Rori Harmon added 16 to lead Texas (18-2, 3-2), which finished 1 of 9 from 3-point range.

NO. 5 VANDERBILT 89, MISSISSIPPI STATE 84

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored a season-high 38 points and No. 5 Vanderbilt won its school-record 18th straight game to open the season, beating Mississippi State 89-84 on Thursday night.

The Commodores are 5-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 1992-93, the season they opened 17-0. The 18-game winning streak is the longest in school history at any point in a season.

Blakes hit five 3-pointers, made 11 free throws without a miss and had seven assists. Justine Pissott added 12 points, and Aiyana Mitchell had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Vanderbilt broke it open with 21-6 run in the third quarter.

Madison Francis led Mississippi State (14-5, 1-4) with 15 points.

NO. 7 KENTUCKY 94, FLORIDA 89

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Tonie Morgan scored a season-high 26 points and had 13 assists to lead Kentucky to a win over Florida.

The Wildcats (17-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) improved to 10-0 at home and fended off a late rally by the Gators (12-8, 0-5).

Clara Strack had 21 points for Kentucky, and Jordan Obi, Amelia Hassett and Asia Boone scored 12 each. Strack sat out most of the third quarter and fouled out with 13 seconds remaining.

Me’Arah O’Neal led the Gators with 23 points, the most in an SEC game and one shy of a career high for Shaquille O’Neal’s 19-year-old, 6-foot-4 daughter. Liv McGill added 20 points and 11 assists for Florida, and Jade Weathersby scored 18.

NO. 8 MICHIGAN 85, NO. 25 ILLINOIS 69

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 21 points, including 15 in the first half, and Te’Yala Delfosse added 15 to lead Michigan to a victory over Illinois on Thursday night.

Mila Holloway added 13 points and Syla Swords had 11 for the Wolverines (15-2, 6-1 Big Ten). Michigan, which has won all 10 of its home games, is off to its best start since is started 20-2 during the 2021-22 season.

Berry Wallace scored 26 points and Jasmine Brown-Hagger added 16 for the Illini (14-4, 4-3 Big Ten), who have dropped three of their last four.

NO. 9 LOUISVILLE 79, NO. 23 NOTRE DAME 66

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Reyna Scott scored 20 points off the bench and Louisville pulled away from Notre Dame for its 10th straight victory.

Tajianna Roberts added 19 points for Louisville (17-3 overall, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which last lost on Dec. 4 when the Cardinals fell 79-77 to then-No. 3 South Carolina. Elif Istanbulluoglu had 11 points and Mackenly Randolph scored 10.

Led by Scott, Louisville’s reserves outscored Notre Dame 31-2. The Cardinals rank second nationally in bench production by averaging 36.3 bench points entering the game.

Hannah Hidalgo scored 24 points and had five rebounds and eight assists to lead Notre Dame (12-5, 2-3). Iyana Moore scored 16 points, Malaya Cowles had 12 and Cassandre Prosper scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

NO. 11 IOWA 74, OREGON 66

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hannah Stuelke and Addison Deal combined to score 36 points and Iowa beat Oregon in a wire-to-wire win.

Stuelke had 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a pair of steals. Deal had 18 points — a career high — on 7-of-9 shooting and made all four of her 3-point attempts. Ava Heiden posted 13 points and nine rebounds. Kylie Feuerbach had 11 points, five assists and two steals.

Stuelke opened the game with a pair of layups, and the Hawkeyes (15-2, 6-0 Big Ten) never trailed in their fifth straight win.

Ehis Etute was the only Oregon (14-5, 2-4) player to score in double figures. She scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter, and posted eight rebounds. Three players had nine points for the Ducks, including Sofia Bell, who added three steals.

NO. 12 MARYLAND 62, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 55

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yarden Garzon hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining and Maryland defeated Southern California.

Addi Mack led the Terrapins with 12 points. Garzon finished with 10 points.

Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu added 10 points, nine rebounds and had a key block of Maria Samuels with 33 seconds remaining. After Garzon’s 3-pointer, the Terrapins got two offensive rebounds before Ozzy-Momodu scored for a 59-55 lead. Those were the only two field goals in the fourth for Maryland.

The Terrapins (17-2, 5-2 Big Ten) bounced back from an 89-76 loss to No. 19 Ohio State to earn their fourth win in five games.

Kara Dunn led USC with 21 points. Star freshman Jazzy Davidson shot 5 of 23, including 0 for 14 over the final three quarters, while picking up her third and fourth fouls in the fourth quarter. She scored 12 of the Trojans’ first 20 points, helping them to a 20-16 lead.

NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE 73, NO. 24 NEBRASKA 71

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Grace VanSlooten scored 22 points and Juliann Woodward sank two free throws with 5.1 remaining in the game for Michigan State to seal a win over Nebraska.

Rashunda Jones added 15 points and Kennedy Blair had 14 for the Spartans (17-1, 6-1 Big 10), who are off to their best start in program history.

Nebraska (14-4, 3-4) was led by Amiah Hargrove, who scored 21 points off the bench on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. Britt Prince added 14. The Cornhuskers finished 7 of 20 from 3-point range after making five in the first quarter.

AUBURN 58, NO. 21 ALABAMA 54

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Khady Leye scored 16 points and Kaitlyn Duhon scored 10 points and Auburn beat Alabama.

Jessica Timmons scored 16 points, Ta’Mia Scott scored 12 points and Karly Weathers 10 while grabbing 11 rebounds for Alabama

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Mets target Kyle Tucker signing with Dodgers

The Mets have swung and missed on star free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, who is signing with the Dodgers.

With Tucker now in tow, Los Angeles will likely have four MVP candidates hitting consecutively in their lineup -- Tucker, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. 

In addition to the Mets and Dodgers, the Blue Jays had been heavily connected to Tucker.

According to multiple reports, Tucker accepted the Dodgers' four-year, $240 million offer. Tucker also has an opt-out after the second year. His $60 million AAV is the second-highest in baseball history, only behind Ohtani's $70 million -- $68 million is deferred.

The Mets had reportedly extended a four-year offer to Tucker worth roughly $50 million annually. 

Tucker, who turns 29 years old later this week, was the biggest name available in this year’s free agent class.

While Tucker always made sense as a free agent target for the Mets, he became an even better fit once president of baseball operations David Stearnstraded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien, creating a vacancy in left field. 

Now that the Mets have missed out, it's not clear where they turn. 

They have been linked to free agent Cody Bellinger, but he has reportedly been deep in negotiations with the Yankees. The Yanks have offered Bellinger five years, while Bellinger's camp has been holding out for seven.

It's conceivable that after failing to land Tucker, the Mets direct their assets to the starting pitching market.

In free agency, Framber Valdez -- who has been connected to the Mets and Orioles -- is still available. 

As far as a trade for pitching, one available starter who could make plenty of sense for New York is Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta. 

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Canucks Winless Streak Hits Nine As Vancouver Falls 4-1 To The Columbus Blue Jackets

The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up their six-game road trip on Thursday with a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brock Boeser scored on the power play, which broke a 21-game goalless drought. As for Kevin Lankinen, he stopped 32 of the 36 shots he faced in the loss. 

With the loss, the Canucks pushed their winless streak to nine games. Vancouver has only had two other nine-game winless streaks since the turn of the century, with the other two coming during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The last time Vancouver went winless in 10 straight was during the 1997-98 season, which led to the Canucks finishing 24th out of 26 teams. 

Thursday was a high-paced game from the start. Vancouver and Columbus each hit double digits for shots in the first and second, and both finished above 30 shots for the game. In the end, the difference was the Blue Jackets' ability to convert on their chance, while the Canucks could only produce one goal.

While this game featured another loss, there was a positive as Boeser broke his 21-game goalless streak. The 28-year-old's last goal came on November 28, which was 48 days ago. Boeser looked relieved on the play as he finally potted his 10th of the season and 214th goal of his career. 

Speaking of Boeser, he showed some chemistry late in the game when put on a line with Elias Pettersson and Liam Öhgren. The trio played 6:10 together as per Natural Stat Trick and finished with a 4-3 shots advantage. Watch for these three to stay together next game, as they were one of the more successful lines over the final 20 minutes. 

The penalty kill was a focus in this game as Columbus scored on both of their opportunities. After gaining some momentum, Vancouver's penalty kill has struggled over the past few weeks, and has now given up at least one goal in four of it's last five games. At this point, it is hard to determine what the solution to fixing the penalty kill as pucks are going in regardless of which players are on the ice. 

Jan 15, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (2) scrums with Vancouver center Aatu Raty (54) and left wing Evander Kane (91) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Jan 15, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (2) scrums with Vancouver center Aatu Raty (54) and left wing Evander Kane (91) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

Let's just call it as it is; this was the perfect road trip for the Canucks. Vancouver didn't pick up a point over the six games and put some distance between themselves and other teams at the bottom of the standings. While some may view this opinion as negative, it is a positive from a rebuilding perspective as the Canucks main focus the rest of the year should be to finish 32nd in the league. 

Stats and Facts:

- Elias Pettersson records his 100th career power play assist

- Brock Boeser's 75th power play goal breaks his tie with Stan Smyl and moves him into sole possession of sixth all-time in franchise history

- Elias Pettersson extends his point streak to three games

- Vancouver has scored one goal or fewer in four of its last five games

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period:

17:25- CBJ: Charlie Coyle (10) from Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli (PPG)

2nd Period:

5:59- CBJ: Kirill Marchenko (17)
10:14- CBJ: Zach Werenski (18) from Kent Johnson (PPG)
14:09- VAN: Brock Boeser (10) from Elias Pettersson and Zeev Buium (PPG)

3rd Period:

10:13- CBJ: Kent Johnson (5) from Boone Jenner and Damon Severson

Up Next:

The Canucks return home from their road trip to start an eight-game homestand. Their first matchup will not be an easy one as the Edmonton Oilers come to town on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Two Penguins' Prospects Named To AHL All-Star Classic

On Thursday, two Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects were recognized for the strong seasons they are having. 

Forward Tristan Broz and goaltender Sergei Murashov were named to the Atlantic Division's team for the AHL All-Star Classic, which will take place Feb. 10-11 in Rockford, Ill. The rosters were chosen by a committee of AHL coaches. 

It will be the first AHL All-Star appearance for both players.

Broz, 23, has appeared in just one NHL game for the Penguins this season, but he has continued to build off a strong 2024-25 rookie campaign in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins. He has recorded 13 goals and 26 points in 33 games this season to go along with a plus-8, and he leads all WBS skaters in points and goals. 

Murashov, 21, saw a pair of brief stints at the NHL leve this season, posting a 1-1-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in five appearances. For most of the AHL season, Murashov led the league in both goals-against average and save percentage, but a recent two-game slide dropped him down to third. 

He is 13-4-0 with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 18 AHL appearances this season. 

A Sitdown With 'Stu': Skinner Talks Hockey, Transition To PittsburghA Sitdown With 'Stu': Skinner Talks Hockey, Transition To PittsburghNew Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Stuart Skinner is adjusting to life in Pittsburgh after spending his first five-plus NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

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Seamus Casey Selected For AHL All-Star Game

Seamus Casey, New Jersey Devils defenseman, was named to his second straight AHL All-Star Game.

This season, the former second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has suited up for the Utica Comets and the New Jersey Devils. He has tallied 17 points (one goal and 16 assists) for the Comets in 26 AHL games.

In addition to his AHL contributions, he has also appeared in two NHL games this season, earning zero points.

During the 2024-25 season, Casey made 14 appearances with the Devils and collected eight points.

Casey is among 30 AHL All-Stars who played in the NHL this season.

Set to represent the North Division in Illinois on February 10th and 11th, the 22-year-old defenseman will take the ice on behalf of the Comets.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Sabres Place Forward On Injured Reserve

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have placed forward Josh Dunne on injured reserve.

Seeing the Sabres place Dunne on injured reserve is entirely understandable. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff recently announced that the 27-year-old forward would be out for the next four to six weeks due to a mid-body injury. Because of this, it makes sense that Dunne has now been placed on injured reserve as he focuses on his recovery. 

Dunne has played in 28 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded one goal, three assists, four points, 34 penalty minutes, 34 hits, and a minus-4 rating. 

Dunne has gotten into the most NHL action of his career already this season, as he entered the campaign with just 16 NHL games played over three seasons. Yet, he will now be forced to miss a good amount of time due to his injury. 

In 44 career NHL games over four seasons split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sabres, Dunne has recorded one goal, four points, 49 penalty minutes, 70 hits, and a minus-14 rating. 

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Chelsea need to avoid long-throw blues, plus: a vacant spot for Liverpool and West Ham’s best hope for survival

Can the 198th derby be any spicier for Manchester United and their latest interim manager, Michael Carrick? This is his second caretaker tenure though the three games of November-December 2021 (beating Villarreal and Arsenal, drawing with Chelsea) hardly compares to sending out an XI to try to beat Manchester City in Saturday’s early kick-off. Pep Guardiola’s high-performing unit remain in contention on all fronts. Carrick takes charge of a United suffering the aftershocks of a latest manager sacking, hoping to salvage the season via European qualification. The lad from Wallsend has 17 games to do so – his new team are in seventh place on 32 points, so victory over City would be a fine start. But you wonder if the match might end with Carrick and United humbled or, even worse, humiliated. Jamie Jackson

Manchester United v Manchester City, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)

Chelsea v Brentford, Saturday 3pm

Leeds v Fulham, Saturday 3pm

Liverpool v Burnley, Saturday 3pm

Continue reading...
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Kraken Assign Jacob Melanson To The AHL; Activate Brandon Montour Off The Injured Reserve

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour is poised to return after missing 14 games with a hand injury, as he’s been activated from the injured reserve.

To free up a roster spot for Montour, winger Jacob Melanson was sent down to the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The 22-year-old Melanson played 15 games in this NHL stint, scoring his first career NHL goal and adding three assists. Melanson routinely impressed the coaching staff with his physicality and aggressiveness on the forecheck.  

Despite averaging just 9:25 of ice time, Melanson threw 65 hits, blocked six shots, and fired 12 shots on goal. Melanson turned a lot of heads in this call-up stint and could be a contender to make the NHL roster out of training camp and pre-season next year. 

He’ll return to the Firebirds, where he’s notched seven goals and 14 points in 23 games. 

Kraken's Brandon Montour Deemed A 'Possibility' For Tonight's Matchup Against The BruinsKraken's Brandon Montour Deemed A 'Possibility' For Tonight's Matchup Against The BruinsThe fourth stop of the Seattle Kraken's five-game road trip is in Boston, where veteran defenseman Brandon Montour could be making his return to the lineup.

At the moment, who Montour will enter the lineup for is undetermined. The three possible players to step out of the lineup are Cale Fleury, Jamie Oleksiak and Ryker Evans. Fleury has impressed his teammates and the coaching staff since he entered the lineup in place of Montour. 

The answer will be revealed when the Kraken take the ice for warmup prior to their matchup against the Boston Bruins. 

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"An Incredible Player": Red Wings Know Their Hands Will Be Full Playing Macklin Celebrini

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Despite being one of the lowest-ranked teams in the Western Conference in recent years, the San Jose Sharks have given the Detroit Red Wings a tough time in their most recent visits to Little Caesars Arena. 

The Sharks have beaten the Red Wings by a combined score of 12-8 in each of their two most recent matchups in Detroit, which included a wild 6-5 overtime setback in December 2023. 

The last time the Red Wings defeated the Sharks on home ice was Jan. 24, 2023, a 3-2 overtime victory with Andrew Copp playing the role of hero. 

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This season, the Sharks are showing that they're no longer pushovers, thanks in large part to forward Macklin Celebrini, a 19-year-old phenom whom San Jose selected first overall in 2024. 

With an astounding 24 goals and 46 assists for 70 points, Celebrini is proving that he's every bit worth the hype he came with coming into the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Red Wings, who host the Sharks on Friday evening, know that they must always be aware of when he's on the ice. 

"He's obviously the main focus," Patrick Kane said of Celebrini following Thursday's practice. "He's the main guy offensively for that team; he's been carrying them all year."

Not yet of legal drinking age in the United States, Celebrini is not only ranked third overall in total NHL scoring, but also was announced as being included on Team Canada's Olympic roster. 

Not bad for a 19-year-old. 

"His points compared to the next guy on their team show how valuable he's been, and he's got them in a playoff spot now, too," Kane continued. "He'll definitely be the main focus of our attention defensively, and making sure whoever is on the ice is aware of him." 

As Kane noted, Celebrini’s 70 points are 38 more than San Jose’s next-leading scorer, Tyler Toffoli, who has 13 goals and 32 total points.

As of Thursday afternoon, Celebrini and the Sharks occupy the second and final Wild Card playoff berth in the Western Conference. 

The Red Wings, who defeated the Sharks by a 3-2 final score in a shootout in San Jose on Nov. 2, will be focusing their game plan on how best to neutralize the former first overall pick. 

Todd McLellan Hits the Reset Button as Red Wings Shuffle Lines AgainTodd McLellan Hits the Reset Button as Red Wings Shuffle Lines AgainFollowing their 3-0 loss against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings displayed some new line combinations at Thursday morning's practice.

"It's not an easy task because the book on him isn't real big in the NHL; he's taken it by storm and is an incredible player," head coach Todd McLellan said of Celebrini. "But he is starting to show some tendencies that other teams are looking at." 

"He's definitely driving that team and creating lots of confidence, and as he elevates his play, others around him elevate their play, and they're a tough team to play against," McLellan continued. "We'll obviously have to be aware of him when he's on the ice and help the players with any type of pre-scout analysis we can give them." 

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Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal

Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The wait ended the way so many modern baseball stories seem to in Los Angeles.

Kyle Tucker, the crown jewel of the 2026 MLB free agency class, is officially a Los Angeles Dodger.

Late Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a deal with the four-time MLB All-Star and 2022 World Series Champion, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract that includes an opt-out after the second season. The pact carries one of the highest average annual values in baseball history and once again underscores the Dodgers’ willingness to operate at the very top of the sport’s financial ecosystem.

For months, Tucker’s free agency felt like a slow-burning standoff. Executives around the league believed his market would soar past $400 million on a long-term deal, especially given his age, durability, elite defense, and left-handed power bat. Tucker, coming off a season with the Chicago Cubs after being traded from the Houston Astros last offseason, was widely viewed as the rare free agent who checks every box: postseason pedigree, consistent production, and star presence without volatility.

But the market never quite erupted.

Instead, it pivoted.

As winter dragged on, the industry began buzzing about a different approach—shorter deals, massive annual value, and the chance for Tucker to re-enter free agency while still firmly in his prime. That’s where the Dodgers and New York Mets entered the picture in earnest. The Mets reportedly offered four years and $200 million, a strong bid that reflected their continued pursuit of top-tier talent. The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a 2025 World Series runner-up finish, went longest with their offer, hoping stability and years would sway the slugger north of the border.

In the end, Los Angeles wouldn’t be outdone.

The Dodgers pushed their offer to a level no one else could touch, combining financial dominance with flexibility.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is fully guaranteed. Includes opt-outs after years two and three. Comes with a $64 million dollar signing bonus, includes $30 million in deferred money, and is a record by AAV by over $6 million (previous record, Juan Soto by the New York Mets last season).

Tucker batted .266 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games with the Cubs last season. He was voted to his fourth All-Star Game in July. 

Tucker is expected to start in right field for the Dodgers, moving Teoscar Hernandez to left field, where he played predominantly during the 2024 World Series season. The Dodgers needed another outfielder after left fielder Michael Conforto didn’t quite pan out as the team had thought in 2025.

Tucker slides into an already formidable Dodgers lineup as a middle-of-the-order force, capable of changing games with one swing while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in the outfield. His postseason résumé only strengthens a team that measures success in October, not summer standings.

For the Dodgers, this signing isn’t just about winning the offseason. It’s about control—of the market, of the narrative, and of the championship window. While other teams blinked or hedged, Los Angeles leaned in.

Kyle Tucker bet on himself.

The Dodgers bet on now.

And once again, the rest of baseball is left reacting to a move that reshapes the balance of power—one expensive, deliberate swing at a time.

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Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal

Dodgers sign top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to 4-year, $240 million deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The wait ended the way so many modern baseball stories seem to in Los Angeles.

Kyle Tucker, the crown jewel of the 2026 MLB free agency class, is officially a Los Angeles Dodger.

Late Thursday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a deal with the four-time MLB All-Star and 2022 World Series Champion, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract that includes an opt-out after the second season. The pact carries one of the highest average annual values in baseball history and once again underscores the Dodgers’ willingness to operate at the very top of the sport’s financial ecosystem.

For months, Tucker’s free agency felt like a slow-burning standoff. Executives around the league believed his market would soar past $400 million on a long-term deal, especially given his age, durability, elite defense, and left-handed power bat. Tucker, coming off a season with the Chicago Cubs after being traded from the Houston Astros last offseason, was widely viewed as the rare free agent who checks every box: postseason pedigree, consistent production, and star presence without volatility.

But the market never quite erupted.

Instead, it pivoted.

As winter dragged on, the industry began buzzing about a different approach—shorter deals, massive annual value, and the chance for Tucker to re-enter free agency while still firmly in his prime. That’s where the Dodgers and New York Mets entered the picture in earnest. The Mets reportedly offered four years and $200 million, a strong bid that reflected their continued pursuit of top-tier talent. The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a 2025 World Series runner-up finish, went longest with their offer, hoping stability and years would sway the slugger north of the border.

In the end, Los Angeles wouldn’t be outdone.

The Dodgers pushed their offer to a level no one else could touch, combining financial dominance with flexibility.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is fully guaranteed. Includes opt-outs after years two and three. Comes with a $64 million dollar signing bonus, includes $30 million in deferred money, and is a record by AAV by over $6 million (previous record, Juan Soto by the New York Mets last season).

Tucker batted .266 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games with the Cubs last season. He was voted to his fourth All-Star Game in July. 

Tucker is expected to start in right field for the Dodgers, moving Teoscar Hernandez to left field, where he played predominantly during the 2024 World Series season. The Dodgers needed another outfielder after left fielder Michael Conforto didn’t quite pan out as the team had thought in 2025.

Tucker slides into an already formidable Dodgers lineup as a middle-of-the-order force, capable of changing games with one swing while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in the outfield. His postseason résumé only strengthens a team that measures success in October, not summer standings.

For the Dodgers, this signing isn’t just about winning the offseason. It’s about control—of the market, of the narrative, and of the championship window. While other teams blinked or hedged, Los Angeles leaned in.

Kyle Tucker bet on himself.

The Dodgers bet on now.

And once again, the rest of baseball is left reacting to a move that reshapes the balance of power—one expensive, deliberate swing at a time.

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Flyers play two goalies for second straight game as losing streak hits 5

Flyers play two goalies for second straight game as losing streak hits 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers’ most troubling stretch of the season worsened Thursday night.

Rick Tocchet’s club lost convincingly to the Penguins, 6-3, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. It trailed 4-1 at second intermission for a third straight game and was down 6-1 in the final stanza.

Samuel Ersson was pulled in the middle frame.

Rodrigo Abols, Nick Seeler and Matvei Michkov provided the team’s goals.

The Flyers (22-16-8) have dropped five straight (0-4-1). They’ve been outscored 25-9 over this season-long skid.

Tocchet’s club is 1-2-0 in its four-game regular-season series against the Penguins (22-14-10). The clubs wrap things up March 7 back at PPG Paints Arena.

• Ersson denied 11 of 14 shots in a period and change of work.

The 26-year-old has surrendered 15 goals over his last three starts. He entered the game with the worst save percentage of his career at .855.

For a second straight game, Cam York committed a first-period penalty and the opponent struck first on the ensuing power play. It marked the Flyers’ 32nd 1-0 deficit in 46 games.

A little over 10 minutes later, Pittsburgh made it 2-0 with another power play goal after Garnet Hathaway was whistled for tripping. The Flyers gave up two or more power play goals for a third consecutive game.

Aleksei Kolosov was called up from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley to back up Ersson. Dan Vladar was unavailable after suffering an undisclosed injury Wednesday night in the first period of the Flyers’ 5-2 loss to the Sabres.

Kolosov ended up taking over 2:17 minutes into the second period after Abols drew the Flyers to within 3-1. About a minute before then, Ersson gave up a transition goal to the Penguins.

The 24-year-old Kolosov made 13 saves on 16 shots.

There has been no official word on Vladar, but the fact that he hasn’t been placed on injured reserve is a good sign for his status.

Pittsburgh netminder Stuart Skinner stopped 30 of the Flyers’ 33 shots.

• This felt like a critical game for the Flyers.

They really needed to stop the bleeding, but couldn’t. The Flyers have been mostly uncompetitive on this losing streak, their special teams have been costly and they’ve battled injuries.

You can’t blame fans if they’re thinking this is the inevitable slide that will ultimately sink the Flyers’ playoff push. It’s only mid-January and Tocchet’s club is still right there in a busy mix. But the Flyers had a collapse in 2023-24 that spoiled a surprise playoff push.

They’ve missed the playoffs in five straight seasons, matching the franchise’s longest drought.

• One positive for the Flyers was Michkov dropping the gloves in the third period to defend Denver Barkey, who took a big hit from Blake Lizotte.

Later in the period, Barkey recorded his second assist of the night on Michkov’s goal.

• To make room for Kolosov, Bobby Brink was placed on injured reserve, a stint retroactive to nine days ago.

Brink missed a fifth straight game with an upper-body injury. But whenever the 24-year-old winger is cleared to return, he can come off IR immediately.

Rasmus Ristolainen missed a second straight game with an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old defenseman has been considered day to day.

• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they host the Rangers (1 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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Chara: Joining Bruins in 2006 ‘best decision I ever made'

Chara: Joining Bruins in 2006 ‘best decision I ever made' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON – Zdeno Chara had his No. 33 raised to the TD Garden rafters Thursday night in a special pregame ceremony before the Bruins hosted the Seattle Kraken.

It was a well-deserved honor for the man who played the leading role in restoring the Original Six franchise back to greatness.

But this night would not have been possible without a key decision in July of 2006, one that Chara described Thursday night as the “best” he’s ever made.

NHL free agency typically is not where you find franchise cornerstones. That type of player is usually acquired through the draft or via the trade market.  

Chara is one of the rare exceptions.

The Ottawa Senators had a couple key players with expiring contracts after the 2005-06 season, including defensemen Wade Redden and Chara.

The Senators re-signed Redden and Chara went to free agency. The Bruins were interested, and despite being known at that time for not splashing the cash for top free agents in their prime, they ultimately signed the imposing 6-foot-9 defenseman to a five-year contract worth $37.5 million.

Chara and the Bruins were the perfect match. And in many ways, they needed each other.

The Bruins were coming off an awful 2005-06 season in which they traded captain Joe Thornton and finished with the league’s fifth-worst record. The once proud franchise was at a low. Competing for the Stanley Cup seemed like pure fantasy.

They were desperate for a foundational player to bring back the Big Bad Bruins era of hockey – one built on hard work, effort, commitment and determination.

Chara was seeking that kind of opportunity, so he chose to take his world-class talent to Boston and challenged himself to lift the Bruins to a championship level again.

“I knew that’s where I wanted to go because there were these opportunities of possibly leading the team, there was desperation to get better, the history, and the living,” Chara said at a press conference following his ceremony. “I saw that it would be a good fit, and it ended up being the best decision I ever made.”

Zdeno CharaSteve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
Zdeno Chara waves to the crowd during his speech before raising his No. 33 to the rafters.

It didn’t take long for Chara to help the Bruins rediscover their identity, and in his second season as captain they were back in the playoffs. They would advance to the postseason 11 times in his 14 years wearing the spoked-B, including three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and one championship in 2011, which ended the franchise’s 39-year title drought.

“Things really changed when Z came here as a free agent,” Bruins legend Ray Bourque said Thursday night, a few hours before the ceremony. “From that point, the culture and everything that comes with that, and the success and the run that they had, he was such a big part of that.

“I remember him as a fresh, young player coming up with the Islanders and what he became. It’s a credit to him and how hard he worked and how dedicated to the game he was. It was so much fun to watch him develop into the player and person that he is. He’s a legend. He deserves to be up there (in the rafters) and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.” 

During those 14 seasons with Chara wearing the “C”, the Bruins won the fourth-most games of any team, scored the fifth-most goals, allowed the fewest goals, had the fourth-best power play and the fifth-best penalty kill. They also won the second-most playoff games. Just like the great Bruins teams of the 1970s and 1980s, they were a nightmare for opponents to play against.  

It was one of the franchise’s most successful and exciting eras.

“They became the Bruins again,” Bourque said. “We could be proud of that group and how they played. They played hard and they were hard to play against.”

He added: “They were so much fun to watch and the fans could really appreciate that team and be proud of that team.”  

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What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler carve up Knicks in Warriors' win

What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler carve up Knicks in Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors knew what they were getting Thursday night when the New York Knicks came into Chase Center without their best player and following a loss to the lowly Kings in Sacramento 21 hours earlier.

The Knicks would be angry and surely knew they had to compensate for Jalen Brunson’s absence.

The Warriors shook off a slow start and a pesky outing by the Knicks by riding a superb game from Jimmy Butler III to come away with a 126-113 victory that put Golden State (23-19) four games over .500 for the first time this season.

Butler poured in a game-high 32 points, with Stephen Curry scoring 27, Moses Moody finishing with 21 and Brandin Podziemski adding 19. This was the eighth time this season that at least three Warriors scored at least 20 points.

Here are three observations from a win over the skidding Knicks:

The Jimmy-Steph tag team

When the Warriors endured another slow start, falling behind 33-19 with 3:33 left in the first quarter, Curry went to the bench a few seconds later, putting the non-Steph minutes under the microscope. 

When Curry exits, that means Butler enters. With his scoring and orchestration, the Warriors closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to pull within five.

That shifted the momentum ever so slightly, as Golden State won the second quarter by eight, taking a 62-59 lead into halftime. Butler scored 15 points in 15 first-half minutes.

When the Knicks opened the third quarter with a surge, it was Curry who lit a fire under the Warriors. After missing all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half, he drained back-to-back triples, pushing the lead to eight, and then snagged a steal that led to a Moody triple that pushed it to 11.

Curry scored 10 points in nine third-quarter minutes, shooting 4-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 from distance.

The Knicks spent the fourth quarter chasing the Warriors in vain.

Batman and Robin, folks, combining for 59 points.

Mo Buckets 2.0 drills Knicks

When Moody shot 30.1 percent from deep over a 15-game span from Dec. 12 to Jan. 11, it was fair to wonder if his wayward stroke would cost him his place in the starting lineup.

Coach Steve Kerr stayed with him, and his patience appears to be paying off.

Moody scored 12 first-half points, all on triples, without a miss. His game total of 21 points came on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 7-of-9 from deep.

With this game following an encouraging performance Tuesday night against Portland, when Moody scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-of-8 from distance, it seems he has at least temporarily fixed his shot.

The Warriors will take it. Moody’s role is to provide point-of-attack defense on one end and be the designated catch-and-shoot wing on the other. His defense has been mostly satisfactory, but the offense gains another dimension when his deep shot is falling.

Podz comes through

After his slow start to this season, Podziemski became a lightning rod for criticism from Dub Nation. Some of it was warranted, some of it was subjective.

But the third-year pro put together a strong December, averaging 12.7 points per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent from deep.

Though Podziemski’s overall play has leveled off this month, he’s still productive and came off the bench to submit an excellent performance against the Knicks.

Podziemski’s 19 points came on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, two assists and two steals, playing 26 minutes and finishing a team-best plus-22.

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