The New York Yankees are preparing to rebuild their championship-caliber roster for the 2026 MLB season. With another disappointing playoff run, the Yankees' front office seems to be hard at work to make a splash in free agency, and one name is turning heads across the league: Chicago Cubs superstar Kyle Tucker.

Yankees Rumors Point to Kyle Tucker as a Top Target

MLB Trade Rumors: Are Yankees Trying to Steal Kyle Tucker MLB Trade Rumors: Are Yankees Trying to Steal Kyle Tucker
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Insiders around baseball are speculating what the Yankees will do next. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that general managers around the league consider New York as one of the front-runners to land the four-time All-Star outfielder. Joining the Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in the hunt for Tucker's signature.

The Giants do have a few nods as the dark horse in this race, but with heavy financial commitments to stars such as Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, San Francisco may be more constrained than they'd like when it comes to landing another massive contract. That could leave them primed to strike: the Yankees.

Kyle Tucker Would Command a Record-breaking $400 Million Contract

If the Yankees want Kyle Tucker in pinstripes, they'll have to pay up big time. Tucker is going to be one of the costliest free agents available. There are reports that his next deal can go all the way to $400 million, putting him in the same financial stratosphere as the best power hitters in the game.

Nightengale noted how teams often claim financial caution during the off-season, although that rarely manages to stop them from pulling the trigger on massive deals:

"They will have you believing their ownership has no money, only to fork over $400 million for free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker."

Currently making $16.5 million, Spotrac projects Tucker to get a 10-year, $401 million deal. CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson predicts a 12-year deal worth $408 million, albeit slightly lower annually but structured to reflect the long-term value and youth, at just 28 years old, on Tucker's side.

Yankees Have a Big Decision to Make: Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger?

Should New York go ahead with the pursuit of Tucker, it would likely cost them some familiar faces. According to Heavy, Cody Bellinger has been a good find for the Yankees, but he's one of several key free agents who could be allowed to walk should the team commit to Tucker's monumental contract.

According to Anderson, Bellinger is a decent all-around player, but the other outfielders, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Mookie Betts, could do better than him.