"He drafted Kyle Tucker" - MLB insider links coveted free agent to AL East team tied to his drafter

Kyle Tucker enjoyed a strong campaign in 2025. Finishing the regular season with a .266 batting average, 22 home runs and 73 RBIs, Tucker played a starring role in helping the Chicago Cubs qualify for the postseason, earning his fourth All-Star selection and second Silver Slugger award in the process.

As a result, the outfielder is considered by many to be the No.1 free agent this offseason, and a number of teams are reportedly competing for his signature.

According to insider Ken Rosenthal, the Baltimore Orioles could also be in the mix, because of Tucker's relationship with Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias.

"Of course, they (Baltimore Orioles) could remain active for a bat, perhaps in center field, perhaps Kyle Tucker, another guy Mike Elias knows well from Houston. He drafted Tucker with the fourth pick of the 2015 draft," Rosenthal said. (3:46)

Bringing in someone like Kyle Tucker will offer the Orioles some much-needed offensive impetus, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season that saw them finish in last place in the AL East with a 75-87 record.

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Insider explains why Orioles should go "all in" to sign Kyle Tucker this winter

In an article he published on November 25, insider James O'Donnell of Yardbarker explained why signing a player like Kyle Tucker made a lot of sense for the Orioles this winter.

"If Mike Elias and the Orioles want to send a clear message to the clubhouse and the league, they should push all their chips in and sign free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker," O'Donnell wrote. "He is a proven star who blends power, patience and reliability in a way that would fit perfectly inside Baltimore’s lineup. He has postseason experience that many of the Orioles’ promising young stars lack.

"He plays a position of need. Most of all, he brings a track record that commands respect the moment he walks into a clubhouse. If the Orioles want to prove they are serious about contending year after year, this is the move that does it. Signing Tucker would be more than a transaction. It would be a statement."

Tucker works out ahead of the 2025 All-Star game- Source: Getty

If the Orioles are to suceed in their pursuit, they will have to fend off interest from the likes of the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, LA Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.