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Kyle Tucker Free Agent Profile: Contract prediction, best fits, stats

After a historic World Series, the MLB offseason is underway, and we're taking you through the potential markets for some of the biggest stars. So far we discussed the market and potential landing spots for Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Bo Bichette, and Matthew Pouliot also ranked every free agent on the market this offseason.

Today, I'm going to continue with the curious case of Kyle Tucker. At one point, he looked set to challenge Juan Soto with one of the biggest free agent contracts in recent memory. However, two seasons marred by injuries that weren't properly identified marred his ascent into superstardom. So, are MLB teams still willing to bet on Tucker as a bona fide star? That could be one of the most important questions of the offseason.

MLB: Playoffs-Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers
2025 MLB Free Agency Guide: Top players, key dates, qualifying offers, how it works
Everything you need to know about MLB free agency, including key dates, the top names on the market, qualifying offers, and draft pick compensation.
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▶ Tucker in Review

Sadly, Tucker's 2025 season was his second season in a row that we can't discuss without mentioning injuries.

On the season, Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games. Overall, not bad numbers, but that 136-game number stands out, especially since he only played 78 games in 2024. However, before we dive into the question marks on the bad news, let's focus on what Tucker showed on the field.

The 29-year-old slashed .291/.395/.537 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in his first 83 games of the 2025 season. He then suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand while sliding into second base in early June. Of course, it would have been nice if we knew that's what happened when the injury occurred; yet, much like in 2024, the injury was not immediately diagnosed as a fracture, and, this time, Tucker continued to play before the pain and discomfort got worse.

In 48 games in July and August, while Tucker battled through the injury, he hit .232/.363/.345 with four homers and 18 RBIs. Then, a calf strain caused him to miss three weeks in September, and we ended the season with a drastically different feeling about Tucker's talent and performance than we had when June began.

Still, we need to take the context of the injuries into account. Fracturing your hand when sliding into second base and fracturing your shin by fouling a ball off of it, as he did in 2024, are not recurring injuries. They are fluky injuries that shouldn't make teams worry about Tucker's ability to stay healthy. Since his breakout season in 2021, Tucker has played at least 140 games in three seasons and averaged 149 games per year. There is no reason for teams not to expect him to get back to that level.

Tucker will also be 29 years old next season, so it should be a few years before we see his skills erode. Yes, his barrel rate dropped to 10.8% this season, and his hard-hit rate was a career-low 40.2%, but those numbers are also impacted by the weeks he spent trying to hit with a fractured hand. That could also be the reason why his performance against fastballs dipped as well. But what we do know is that he has now posted a fWAR of at least 4.2 in every season since 2020 and has not seen his wRC+ dip below 130 since then either. Even in an injury-impacted season, his 136 wRC+ this season was good for 16th in baseball, tied with Matt Olson and Byron Buxton, and one point below Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

There's still a strong case that Tucker is a top 10 offensive player in baseball.

▶ Market Outlook

At one point, it looked like Kyle Tucker was a lock to push somewhere close to Juan Soto's $765 million contract with the Mets. However, injuries over the last two seasons have made that outcome unlikely. Still, Tucker remains one of the most talented players in baseball and should command a deal close to, or larger than, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays last off-season.

It's unlikely that Tucker will get 14 years considering he's 29 years old, but his 13.6 fWAR over the last three years far outpaces Guerrero's 9.8 mark, and Tucker not only has more defensive value currently but should be able to easily transition into a DH role as he ages. If we believe he will command more than Guerrero but less than Soto, that would put Tucker at about $39 million per season.

The rest of the factors in the larger free agent market don't really impact Tucker. It doesn't matter how many other impact hitters are available or whether the outfield class is deep or shallow. Players like Tucker exist in a free agent landscape of their own. They are franchise-altering pieces. They can single-handedly shift the outlook of a team's season and its World Series hopes. The only factor in the market that impacts what a team would offer Tucker is simply how much money they have to spend on him.

We also should note that, with a potential lockout looming, some team could make an excessive offer to Tucker and use tons of deferred money before the league decides to cut back on that. We know one team that would be more than happy to take that approach.

▶ Best Fits

Cubs: We can start with the team that Tucker played for last year. We know they need his bat, and we know they have the money to pay him, especially with them moving on from the remainder of Shota Imanaga's contract. However, you could argue that an extension could have been worked out between the two sides earlier in the season or immediately after the trade if Tucker really wanted to stay. The Cubs have not been aggressive on free agents in recent years, so this feels a bit unlikely.

Dodgers: The Dodgers are the heavy favorites here because, well, they always are. They played Michael Conforto in the outfield for much of the 2025 season, so we know they have a need in the outfield, and the World Series showed us that their lineup is missing another impactful hitter or two. While it may not seem like they can afford to sign Tucker, we know that they can always find a way.

Yankees: Both Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are free agents, which means that the Yankees have a hole in the outfield that can be filled. Jasson Dominguez has proven to be a better defender in center field than as a corner outfielder, so the Yankees could move him there and have Tucker and Aaron Judge as their corner outfielders for the foreseeable future.

Giants: We know the Giants would make a move like this because they swung for the fences when they traded for Rafael Devers.Still, even after that addition, their offense lacked punch. But will Tucker want to sign to play in a stadium that doesn't profile extremely well for left-handed hitters?

Phillies: The Phillies have been a World Series contender for a few years now, but keep coming up short. They are getting older, and the time is now. With Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto now free agents, there is money for them to spend on Tucker.

Astros: Yes, the Astros traded Tucker away, but they also let Carlos Correa go and then just brought him back last season. Houston still needs an impact bat in the outfield, and so maybe they decide that a reunion makes some sense.

Contract Prediction

I still expect Tucker to command a large offer this offseason. I think the contract could go up to 12 years, but I'm going to be a tad more cautious here. I'm also going to pivot from the expected Dodgers landing spot, partly out of spite, but also because Tucker, from his time with the Astros, strikes me as a player who wants to compete to take down the Dodgers, not join them. Tucker is originally from Florida, so let's put him back on the East Coast with a chance to play with other stars and win a title.

Phillies - 10 years, $405 million

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Marcus Smith urged to kickstart England attack against Fiji after setbacks

  • Genge to captain side as Borthwick makes seven changes

  • Itoje on the bench after missing training due to injury

Steve Borthwick has ­acknowledged the challenges presented by ­managing Marcus Smith’s ­diminished role for England but has urged the recalled playmaker to kickstart his side’s attack against Fiji on Saturday.

Borthwick revealed that he met with Smith before England’s autumn campaign to offer support to the ­Harlequins No 10, who was ­first-choice fly-half 12 months ago before being moved to full-back and then to the role of super sub.

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NHL Trade Rumors: Sabres Looking To Move Goalie

Alexandar Georgiev (© Robert Edwards-Imagn Images)

Back in September, the Buffalo Sabres signed goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year, $825,000 contract. 

Georgiev did not make the Sabres' NHL roster out of training camp and was placed on waivers before joining their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In two games this season with Rochester so far, he has recorded a 0-2-0 record, a .896 save percentage, and a 3.57 goals-against average. 

With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis, and Devon Levi all being ahead of Georgiev on the Sabres' depth chart, the fit just has not been there. 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres are looking to move Georgiev. 

"They are trying to find a new home for Alexandar Georgiev," Friedman wrote in his latest 32 Thoughts column. 

Teams in need of some goalie depth could consider pursuing Georgiev when noting that he has a low cap hit. Yet, he also just had a tough 2024-25 season split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, posting a 15-26-4 record, a .875 save percentage, and a 3.71 goals-against average.

In 303 career NHL games split between the New York Rangers, Avalanche, and Sharks, Georgiev has recorded a 151-108-26 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 2.99 goals-against average. He was also an NHL All-Star in 2023-24.

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Detroit Holds Second Place Despite Mixed Road Trip, Faces Crucial Stretch Ahead

The Detroit Red Wings remain in second place after their four-game road trip out West, an impressive feat despite some concerning signs. Before heading west, the Red Wings stopped in Missouri and surprised the Blues by winning both legs of their home-and-home series. That accomplishment looks a bit less impressive now, considering St. Louis has stumbled to a last-place start.

Detroit then traveled to California and opened the trip strong against the Los Angeles Kings but nearly gave the game away after allowing two goals in 40 seconds late in the third period. They managed to escape with a shootout win. The following night, they faced the difficult task of completing a road back-to-back and fell short losing 5–2 to Anaheim.

Two days later, they faced the young and improving San Jose Sharks, who pushed Detroit to the limit before the Red Wings prevailed in yet another shootout victory. The trip concluded this past Tuesday in Las Vegas, where Detroit battled hard against the Golden Knights. They held their own defensively against one of the best offenses in the league but were ultimately shut out in a narrow 1–0 loss.

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Depth scoring proved to be an issue throughout the road trip, with stars Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and captain Dylan Larkin carrying most of the offensive load. Overall, the team managed only 12 goals while allowing 13 across the five games. Of those 12 goals, the top trio accounted for seven, highlighting the growing problem of limited secondary scoring.

Forwards Emmitt Finnie and Jonatan Berggren, both hot before the trip, went without a point over the five games. J.T. Compher also failed to record a point, while veterans James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, and Andrew Copp each went without a goal, though all contributed at least one assist, with Appleton collecting two. It is also worth noting that van Riemsdyk scored the shootout winner against San Jose, providing some impact there.

It is difficult to be overly critical of Detroit’s recent stretch given the length and difficulty of the road trip, but there is a sense that the team’s early-season momentum has slowed. After starting 5–1–0, the Red Wings have gone 4–4–0 since, with two of those wins coming in shootouts. Seven of their last eight games have been on the road, which helps explain the recent dip in form, but the Red Wings now have a chance to reset as they return home for a seven-game stretch, with only a quick trip to New York next Sunday interrupting the homestand.

If Detroit can regain the balanced scoring and energy that defined their early-season success, they can reestablish themselves as a legitimate playoff contender. If not, the conversation will shift toward whether their hot start was merely a brief surge rather than a sign of true progress. The next few games will be pivotal in determining that answer for both the Red Wings and their fans.

Red Wings Prospect Carter Bear Bringing Grit And Growth After NHL ExperienceRed Wings Prospect Carter Bear Bringing Grit And Growth After NHL ExperienceDetroit's 2025 first round pick Carter Bear embraces a more physical game, showing grit and growth in Everett. His NHL preseason experience is fueling this impactful development.

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Kyshawn George is having a breakout season by embracing his role as a positionless creator

The Washington Wizards may not command your attention when you scan the NBA standings and find them sitting at 1-7 on the season, but it takes only a few minutes of watching them on the court to see the abundance of promise on this roster. Through the first eight games, none of those promising young players has demanded our attention quite like Kyshawn George.

The 21-year-old former 24th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has emerged as an early candidate for Most Improved Player. After averaging 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 37.2% from the field in 26.5 minutes per game as a rookie, few people expected George to come into the 2025-26 season and lead the Wizards' offense in the way that he has.

Through eight games, George is averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 53.2% from the field and playing 31.1 minutes per game. His 21.3% usage rate is the third-highest among Washington's starters and puts him right on the same level as players like Amen Thompson, Ryan Rollins, and Aaron Gordon, which speaks to George's prominent role within the offense. A role that, this season, has also placed George as the hub of offense on the perimeter way more than he was last season.

Kyshawn George came into Wednesday night’s game against Boston fifth in the NBA in his frequency as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, being used in that role 41% of the time. Last season, he was asked to do that under 17% of the time.

"Growing up, I've always been a point guard," said the 6'8" George. "It's only been the last couple of years that I kind of transitioned to being able to play the wing. I always kept the point guard skills. I've always been able to read the game really well and just make the right decision from there. So they've given me the opportunity to run the pick and roll more, and I'm just taking advantage of it."

With George running the pick-and-roll, the Wizards average 1.06 points per possession, which is 22nd among all pick and roll ballhandlers in the NBA, just below Dyson Daniels and ahead of players like Julius Randle and Paolo Banchero. The Wizards score on 48% of the possessions where George is used as a pick-and-roll ballhander, and he ranks in the 80th percentile in the NBA for his effectiveness in that role.

Part of his success in the pick-and-roll game is due to his work in the offseason.

"He's getting in the paint more to put pressure on the rim," said Wizards head coach Brian Keefe. "Just the work that he's put in during the offseason on his game, but also his body, so he's been able to absorb contact and been able to attack more. It's been great."

George has good lateral quickness, but he's larger than most point guards, so he doesn't have the lightning-quick first step or shiftiness that smaller players might have. Being able to figure out the right angles to attack the basket at and also improve his ability to finish through contact has been instrumental for him.

"I definitely worked on [finishing through contact] this summer," admitted George. "I mean, I was working the whole summer, basically, and there are definitely strides I took in the weight room with just lifting weights in general, and getting stronger and using my body to the best of my ability."

With that stronger body and summer of work behind him, George has focused on being "super aggressive in general" this season. Through his first eight games, he is averaging almost 10 drives per game this season, after averaging just over four last year. He's also shooting 59.3% on those drives this year, with nearly 64% of his points overall coming when he drives to the basketball.

"It's definitely a confidence thing," explained George. "The coaches emphasized that I was showing flashes of it last year, but I think it's just taking a step in how aggressive I could be. I think there's even a bigger step to be taken, but just, you know, causing havoc offensively, being able to get into the paint, make the defense collapse, and then make the right read from there."

Making the right read was something that George feels he struggled with last year. Despite seeing himself as a "positionless" player in a league that is largely positionless, George went into the off-season determined to improve in his ability as a facilitator. Last year, in pick and roll situaitons specifically, George had a nearly 20% turnover rate. This season, he has cut that down to 16%. On drives in general, George has a 5.3% turnover rate this season, down from 7% last year. Overall, his assist rate this season is 20.4%, which is a sizable jump up from his 13.3% mark last year.

"We noticed last year I was getting into the paint, and I was kind of indecisive when I got in there," explained George before Wednesday's game. "I just worked on my decision-making once I got into the paint...I see myself as a creator, either for myself or the team, and just being able to get us a good shot every possession."

Sometimes, the good shot that the Wizards can get comes with George launching from beyond the arc. Last year, that was not such a beneficial strategy. George took 5.2 three-pointers per game last year but converted at just a 32.2% clip. It was yet another aspect of his game that George focused on during the off-season, and he has been shooting the lights out early on, knocking down an absurd 53.8% of his shots from deep while still taking 5.6 three-pointers per game.

George attributes that growth to "reps over the off-season, and also discipline. I'm kind of a feel shooter, and I'm just adding the discipline part to it. Being able to hold my follow-through to try to keep it as consistent as possible. Just digging into the details of shooting and being able to be super consistent with that."

The detail-oriented approach to his game has become a central focus for George. He uses the word "intentionality" often when he speaks and makes sure he has a clear purpose behind every action that he performs, even in a practice setting.

"It's just a lot of adjustments," he explained about his growth as a shooter, "and making sure I'm not taking any shot for granted. I'm making sure that I'm really sticking and putting in meaningful reps every time I shoot. Not necessarily staying five hours in the gym and shooting a gazillion shots. Being able to get maybe a smaller amount, but game reps with really high intentionality."

That detail-oriented mindset has carried over on the defensive side of the ball. After posting a 115.5 defensive rating last year, he has registered a 117.7 mark this year, which is 38th in all of basketball among starters. "He's really an all-around player," said Coach Keefe." You know, over a block a game, over a steal game. He just continues to make these incremental gains."

For George, the biggest factor in his defensive improvements this season has been from getting more reps. The more experience he has on the court, the more time he has to pay attention to the details of what his opponents are doing and use that to improve his own game.

"I have more experience," he said plainly when asked about his defensive growth. "I just know what kind of actions are going on. I know what players like to do...Just playing against them, you see more reps and experience. Then, watching the games or watching individual players, you learn a lot from what they want to do, and you could also add that to your personal game...Just that overall experience. And then, it's just trying to win the matchup every time on the floor, not letting anybody score easily. Just playing basketball at the end of the day."

Pride in aggressive defense is one of the hallmarks of this young Wizards team. Players like Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Khris Middleton, and Bilal Coulibaly all rank ahead of George in defensive rating so far this season. As the second-youngest team in the NBA, with an average age of 23.8 years old, the Wizards want to hound you on the perimeter, speed you up, and then take the ball and sprint down the court in the other direction. Heading into Wednesday's game, they are 3rd in the NBA in pace and have no intention of slowing down.

"We’re going to play with that pace because we think that’s going to lead to us being a successful team," said Coach Keefe. "We’re a pretty deep team. That’s hard to handle when we’re really moving the ball like that. You can see that, at times. It’s got to get more consistent. That’s what we’re trying to work on every day to grow for our team.”

That path for growth, both for George and the Wizards, is easy to see. With George, Coulibaly, former 2nd overall pick Alex Sarr, former 14th overall pick Bub Carrington, and this year's 6th overall pick Tre Johnson, the Wizards have an athletic and promising core of players who are all under 21 years old. With Sarr also having a breakout season, Coulibaly recently returning from injury, andTre Johnson in the top 10 among rookies in points, rebounds, and steals per game, this Wizards team has all the makings of a group that could start the season feisty but unsuccessful and then work their way into being a team nobody wants to play in the second half of the year.

Still, even with a potentially bright future on the horizon, both personally and for his team, George is trying to keep a more immediate mindset.

"You just stay focused on the day-to-day," he said when asked about his thoughts on the outlook for his young team. "Just being intentional with everything you do. You trust that, with the work you're putting in, the intentionality you have every day, the results are gonna come. Yeah, it's tough sometimes, but you got to make sure that your focus is on the right thing, and that you just keep stacking days."

So how does George feel about the days he has stacked so far this season? "I think I'm going in the right direction, but there's way more to be done." It's a sentiment that his head coach shares: "There is no ceiling for a player like [George]."

Now that he has our attention, it's time to see just how high Kyshawn George and these young Wizards can go.

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Canadiens: Dobes Back In Net As He Should Be

When the Montreal Canadiens take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, Jakub Dobes will be in the net. Even though Samuel Montembeault was the uncontested number one last season, both goaltenders will have played the same number of games this season.

This is not a problem, nor is it a controversy. While once upon a time having a number one and a number two goaltender was a must, nowadays, there are examples of a 1A and 1B pairing working just fine. Did anybody complain about the Boston Bruins when Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark split the workload 50-50? They didn’t because both netminders allowed the team to win.

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Besides, when Jacob Fowler is ready to graduate to the NHL, one of the two may have to move, and the higher their value, the better for the team. Until that moment comes, though, it’s perfectly fine for the winning goaltender to get the net.

While the Canadiens had an atrocious first period on Tuesday night and Montembeault gave up three quick goals, he could hardly be blamed for them, and he bounced back admirably, stopping the next 30+ shots sent his way, only allowing another one as he was vulnerable after dropping his stick. It was a reassuring performance from the starter, indicating he has turned a corner. However, ultimately, the Canadiens still lost the game, which is why it’s perfectly logical for Dobes to get the net in New Jersey on Thursday.

Suppose he has another great game and plays a significant role in a Canadiens’ victory. In that case, he should also be on duty on Saturday night at the Bell Center against the Utah Mammoth, especially since they’ve been impressive this season. It’s also worth mentioning that Montembeault hasn’t had an excellent record against them, 1-0-1 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. In this super-competitive Eastern Conference, where no team has a winning percentage below .500, every win and every point counts.

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NBA Highest-Paid Players 2025-26: Curry, Durant Join $1 Billion Club

LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have posted first-ballot Hall of Fame resumes on the court with a combined 10 NBA titles, seven MVPs and 43 All-NBA team selections. The numbers off the court are even more stunning.

The trio’s estimated career earnings from salaries and endorsements will hit $3.7 billion by season’s end, with Curry and Durant joining their longtime rival in an exclusive club: the only NBA players to earn $1 billion in salary and endorsements while still active (Michael Jordan hit $1 billion after his retirement). It’s a threshold that only six non-NBA players hit during their careers: Tiger Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Roger Federer, Phil Mickelson and Floyd Mayweather.

For the 2025-26 season, James reclaimed his crown as the NBA’s highest-paid player at $132.6 million, including an estimated $80 million off the court. James was the NBA’s top earner for 11 straight seasons before Curry finished on top last year at $156 million. The Golden State Warriors point guard’s endorsement earnings got a one-time boost from his Under Armour contract extension. Kobe Bryant in 2012-13 was the last player to finish ahead of LeBron before Curry last season.

While James will make more than any other basketball player this season, his $52.6 million Lakers salary once again trails many of his fellow All-Stars. It ranks No. 12 overall for the 2025-26 season. James has had the top salary only once (2016-17) during his 23-year career. At $59.6 million, Curry has the top playing salary for the ninth straight year.

James’ off-court earnings have exceeded his team salary since he was drafted first overall in 2003 and joined the Cleveland Cavaliers armed with a $90 million Nike deal, plus sponsor deals with Coca-Cola and Upper Deck. Nike remains his biggest backer, with his current “lifetime” deal signed in 2015 worth more than $1 billion, according to his longtime business manager, Maverick Carter.

James’ new brand partners this year include Richard Mille and Barbie-maker Mattel; in April, he became the first pro athlete to have a Ken doll. In March, Amazon signed a multiyear deal for James’ digital series, Mind the Game, which will be distributed across several Amazon properties.

Stacked Bars
Source

The 20 highest-paid NBA players will earn a combined $1.4 billion, up 2% versus last year. The off-court earnings represent 29% of the total, and James is the only one to make more from his brand partners than his NBA team.

NBA salaries have skyrocketed as revenues rose, and players are entitled to 51% of the pie. Sixty NBA players are set to earn at least $30 million this year in salary, versus 35 in the NFL and 13 in MLB.

Column Chart
Source

Methodology

Sportico estimated off-court earnings for the 2025-26 season through conversations with those familiar with NBA endorsement deals. Also included are royalties from sneaker deals, as well as earnings from memorabilia, appearances, media and businesses tied to their celebrity. We exclude investment income unless it is connected to an endorsement agreement. The figures are all before taxes and any agent fees.

The salaries are base salaries for the season and do not include any playoff bonuses or incentives—most of these players are on max-level contracts, which don’t include incentives. We also did not deduct the 10% escrow payments withheld from contracts, which ensures the proper revenue split as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. The league retained 9.1% of the $5.3 billion in player contracts from the 2024-25 season, but players are likely to keep most, if not all, of their 2025-26 salaries with the league’s new 11-year, $76 billion TV contracts kicking in.

Table
Source

The 20 Highest-Paid NBA Players

1. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers): $132.6 million

Salary: $52.6 million | Endorsements: $80 million | Age: 40

This season marks James’ 23rd NBA campaign, and he has been selected for 21 All-NBA teams, six more than any other player in the history of the game. The longevity and dominance will push his career earnings to $1.7 billion by season’s end, on par with Messi for fourth all-time, behind Jordan, Woods and Ronaldo.

2. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors): $109.6 million

Salary: $59.6 million | Endorsements: $50 million | Age: 37

Curry’s business interests. which are housed under Thirty Ink, include Unanimous Media, Gentleman’s Cut Bourbon and Underrated Golf and Basketball. His other brand partners are Under Armour, Google, Chase, Rakuten and Fanatics. Curry remains a lethal shooter with the highest free throw percentage in the history of the NBA, and his 4,093 career 3-pointers made are more than 800 ahead of second-ranked James Harden.

3. Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets): $103.3 million

Salary: $53.3 million | Endorsements: $50 million | Age: 37

KD signed a two-year contract worth $90 million with the Rockets after he was traded this summer from the Phoenix Suns. The deal was a $30 million discount on the max contract Durant was eligible for, and it gives Houston room to bolster its roster and avoid the NBA’s second apron. It pushed his career playing salary, including money owed, to nearly $600 million, the highest in NBA history.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): $99.1 million

Salary: $54.1 million | Endorsements: $45 million | Age: 30

Antetokounmpo is under contract with the Bucks through the 2026-27 season with a player option for the following year, but his potential departure from Milwaukee is always an NBA storyline. The Bucks are doing everything they can to satisfy the two-time MVP, including nabbing Myles Turner from the Pacers via a four-year, $109 million deal and signing two of Giannis’ brothers, Thanasis and Alex, just ahead of the season start.

5. Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics): $72.1 million

Salary: $54.1 million | Endorsements: $18 million | Age: 27

Tatum will likely miss the entire 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the 2025 NBA playoffs. He’ll still collect his full salary, which is the first year of a five-year, $313 million contract that is the biggest in the history of the NBA. The Jordan Brand ambassador added Vertex Pharmaceuticals to his endorsement roster this year.

6. Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves): $65.6 million

Salary: $45.6 million | Endorsements: $20 million | Age: 24

Edwards is the youngest member of the NBA’s top-10 earners by more than two years, and one of the leaders to assume the face of the NBA moniker as the older guard nears retirement. Edwards led the Timberwolves to back-to-back Western Conference finals, and Adidas has pushed him hard in its marketing. Sprite, Fanatics, Chipotle, Bose, Hisense, Call of Duty and Panini are his other partners.

7. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers): $65.2 million

Salary: $55.2 million | Endorsements: $10 million | Age: 31

Injuries have limited Embiid to 58 total games during the past two seasons after he won the league’s MVP award during the 2022-23 season. He has a three-year, $188 million contract extension that kicks in next season. Last year, Skechers added Embiid as an endorser in its goal to establish a basketball brand.

8. Jimmy Butler (Golden State Warriors): $65.1 million

Salary: $54.1 million | Endorsements: $11 million | Age: 36

In February, Butler signed a two-year, $111 million contract extension with the Warriors after he forced a trade from the Miami Heat. Alo launched its first shoe collaboration with Butler last month. The “recovery” shoe retails for $275.

9. Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets): $64.2 million

Salary: $55.2 million | Endorsements: $9 million | Age: 30

Jokic’s salary is tied with Embiid for the second-highest this season after Curry. He is eligible to sign a four-year extension next summer for $293 million. During the past five seasons, the Joker has won three NBA MVP awards and finished second the other two years.

10. Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns): $63.1 million

Salary: $53.1 million | Endorsements: $10 million | Age: 29

Booker, along with Durant and Bradley Beal, contributed to Suns owner Mat Ishbia paying $220 million in luxury tax penalties the past two seasons for the club’s high payrolls. But of that trio, Booker is the only one left in Phoenix. In July, Booker agreed to a two-year, $145 million contract extension with the franchise through the 2029-30 season at the highest annual salary in NBA history.

11. Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers): $61 million

Salary: $46 million | Endorsements: $15 million | Age: 26

The Mavericks’ trade of the Serbian star to the Lakers rocked the sports world in February. In July, he agreed to a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension through the 2027-28 season, eschewing a chance to test free agency next summer. Dončić was first team All-NBA five straight seasons before injuries curtailed his 2024-25 campaign.

12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder): $58.3 million

Salary: $38.3 million | Endorsements: $20 million | Age: 27

SGA’s dream season included a league-high 32.7 points per game, NBA MVP award and NBA Finals MVP nod while leading the Thunder to their first title since moving to Oklahoma City. He signed a four-year contract extension that tips off with the 2027-28 season worth an estimated $273 million. On top of that, he signed an extension with Converse last year that made him the brand’s creative director of basketball.

13. Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks): $58.1 million

Salary: $53.1 million | Endorsements: $5 million | Age: 29

The Knicks acquired Towns from the Timberwolves just ahead of the 2024-25 season start, and he helped lead them to their first Eastern Conference final since 2000. He’s in the second season of a four-year, $220 million contract he originally signed with Minnesota.

14. Anthony Davis (Dallas Mavericks): $57.6 million

Salary: $54.1 million | Endorsements: $3.5 million | Age: 32

Davis was on the other end of the Dončić trade that ended his five-plus season run in Los Angeles. In 2023, the Lakers signed Davis to a three-year deal that was the richest NBA deal by average annual value at the time, with the $175 million pact kicking off this season. He ranks second in career blocks among active players, behind Brook Lopez.

15. Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers): $56.9 million

Salary: $46.4 million | Endorsements: $10.5 million | Age: 29

Mitchell finished fifth in last season’s MVP voting, as the Cavs won 64 regular-season games, their second-highest win total in franchise history. Mitchell has become an endorsement star with more than 10 partners, including Adidas, American Express, Bodyarmor and Skims.

16. Paul George (Philadelphia 76ers): $56.7 million

Salary: $51.7 million | Endorsements: $5 million | Age: 35

George missed 41 games during the 2024-25 season after joining the 76ers under a four-year, $211.6 million free agent contract. He no longer has a signature shoe with Nike but still works with the brand, in addition to Kinder, GALA Sports, Panini, SCUF and American Express.

17. Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers): $56.6 million

Salary: $45.6 million | Endorsements: $11 million | Age: 25

The All-Star point guard will sit out the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder. Haliburton had been a Nike guy since he was drafted in 2020, but Puma signed him to a huge deal last year to be the face of the brand.

18. Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers): $56.5 million

Salary: $50 million | Endorsements: $6.5 million | Age: 34

Leonard’s endorsement deal with bankrupt environmentally focused financial services firm Aspiration has triggered an NBA investigation over potential salary cap violations by the Clippers, whose owner Steve Ballmer invested in the company. At $7 million per year, Leonard’s Aspiration sponsorship was worth more than his New Balance sneaker deal and almost every other player endorsement, outside of shoe deals.

19. Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons): $56.4 million

Salary: $46.4 million | Endorsements: $10 million | Age: 24

The Pistons finished above .500 last year for only the second time since the 2007-08 season. Cunningham was the main driver of the sharp turnaround with his 26 points per game and seventh-place finish in MVP voting. He’s built a deep roster of sponsors, led by Nike, that also includes Meta, 2K, Coinbase, Funko, The Sam Bernstein Law Firm, Daiya Foods and Impossible Foods.

20. James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers): $55.2 million

Salary: $39.2 million | Endorsements: $16 million | Age: 36

Harden made an All-NBA team last year for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The Clippers rewarded the 36-year-old point guard with a two-year, $81 million contract extension.

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Pros and Cons: Should the Mets sign Dylan Cease?

The easiest and cleanest way for the Mets to add a top-of-the-rotation starter to their staff this offseason is to turn to the free agent market, where the headliners are Framber Valdez, Michael King, and Ranger Suarez.

King, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2026, was tremendous for the Padres in 2024 as he transitioned from relieving to starting. But he made just 15 starts in 2025 as he dealt with a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder and also lost time due to a knee injury.

Suarez, who turned 30 in August, might be the safest bet -- but he's also the least imposing. He has allowed 8.6 hits per nine during his eight-year career, is not a big strikeout guy, and has never thrown 158 innings or more in a season.

Then there's Dylan Cease, whose upside is sky high.

Cease, who is entering his age-30 season, has finished top-four in Cy Young voting two of the last four seasons. And he eats tons of innings. However, he's coming off a campaign where he had a 4.55 ERA and has been maddeningly inconsistent.

But with Suarez not an ideal fit, Valdez in line for a monster deal ahead of his age-32 season, and King having serious injury concerns, would a Mets pursuit of Cease make the most sense?

Here are the pros and cons... 

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Petco Park.
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Petco Park. / Orlando Ramirez - Imagn Images

PROS

Since his first full season in the majors in 2021, Cease has been one of the most reliable pitchers in the sport when it comes to taking the ball.

He has made at least 32 starts each of the last five seasons, and has exceeded 165.0 innings in all of them. He tossed 165.2 innings in 2021, 184.0 in 2022, 177.0 in 2023, 189.1 in 2024, and 168.0 in 2025.

Cease has a career ERA of 3.88 and a WHIP of 1.26, but his upside is literally Cy Young caliber.

In 2022, he posted a 2.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP for the White Sox and finished second in American League Cy Young award voting. In 2024, he had a 3.47 ERA and 1.06 WHIP for the Padres and finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting. 

Part of the reason Cease's upside is so high is his ability to miss bats. He has struck out 214 batters or more in each of the last five seasons and has a career strikeout per nine rate of 10.9. This past season, his 11.5 strikeouts per nine led all qualified starting pitchers. 

Clearly, Cease's propensity to make every start and his swing-and-miss stuff would be huge for a Mets rotation that generally failed to provide enough innings last season and pitched to too much contact.

When it comes to Cease's advanced stats, he was elite last season in whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, fastball velocity, xBA, and chase percentage. He was above average when it came to xERA and hard hit percentage.

Regarding his stuff, Cease relies mainly on a four-seam fastball and slider (he threw the two pitches a combined 82 percent of the time last season), and also mixes in a curve, sinker, and sweeper. 

How that stuff has graded out has oscillated from season to season, though, which helps explain the variance in Cease's performance. 

Jul 25, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease (84) reacts after the final out of the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
Jul 25, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease (84) reacts after the final out of the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

CONS

Cease has basically been an every other year performer since 2022, sandwiching top-four Cy Young finishes with mediocre campaigns.

He had a 4.58 ERA and 1.41 WHIP for the White Sox in 2023 and a 4.55 ERA and 1.32 WHIP for the Padres in 2025.

Cease also issues too many free passes. He's averaged 3.8 per nine during his career, and his walk rate was in the 20th percentile this past season.

As is noted above, part of the reason why Cease has gone back and forth between elite performance and mediocre performance is how his stuff has played.

For example, his pitching run value in 2024 was in the 97th percentile. In 2025, it was in the 44th percentile. When it comes to his fastball specifically, it graded out as a tick above average in 2024 and well below average in 2025.

There's also the fact that aside from his slider, Cease doesn't have a truly reliable secondary offering. Last season, he threw his curve eight percent of the time, his sinker five percent of the time, his sweeper three percent of the time, and his changeup one percent of the time. And hitters punished his curve, slugging .576 against it. 

It's possible there's a team out there that believes it can harness Cease's upside and offers him a long-term deal at roughly $30 million per season. If that happens, it's fair to believe he almost certainly won't be a Met.

VERDICT

If Cease's market stays relatively sane -- think a three-or four-year deal -- the Mets should be all over it. 

It can be argued that the Mets need to add two new members to the starting rotation this offseason. One should be a reliable top-of-the-rotation type, and that pitcher should be acquired via trade. The other should be someone who profiles in the middle of the rotation, takes the ball reliably, and has upside. When it comes to the latter type of pitcher, Cease fits it to a tee.