Baltimore enters the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
The Baltimore Orioles are making it clear they want to be players in this year's free agent market, and the latest report suggests they have their eyes on the biggest prize available.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the Orioles have spoken with Kyle Tucker's camp about a potential deal.
Morosi reported the news alongside Jon Heyman on Bleacher Report, noting that Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias has a history with the four-time All-Star outfielder since Elias was the scouting director in Houston when the Astros drafted Tucker fifth overall in 2015.
A Bounce-Back Season on Tucker's Mind
Tucker is coming off a solid 2025 campaign with the Chicago Cubs where he posted a .266 batting average with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games.
His .841 OPS and 143 OPS+ still ranked among the best in the National League even though he dealt with a hairline fracture in his right hand during the summer.
Over his eight-year career, the 28-year-old has hit .273 with 147 home runs and 490 RBI while earning four All-Star selections, a Gold Glove Award, and a World Series ring with the Astros in 2022.
Tucker is expected to command one of the largest contracts in baseball history with projections putting his deal somewhere in the range of 11 years and $400 million.
Baltimore Looks to Rebound After Rough 2025
The Orioles are coming off a season they would rather forget. After making the playoffs in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024, Baltimore finished 2025 with a 75-87 record and landed in last place in the AL East.
They fired manager Brandon Hyde in May when the team sat at 15-28 and were officially eliminated from postseason contention on September 16.
The organization used 70 different players throughout the season and had 29 players spend time on the injured list, which contributed to their struggles.
Now under new ownership with David Rubenstein at the helm, Baltimore is signaling they are ready to spend like a big-market team.
Orioles Getting Aggressive This Winter
This is not the first splash the Orioles have tried to make this offseason. Reports indicate they offered Kyle Schwarber a five-year, $150 million deal that matched what he eventually signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Baltimore has also already traded for slugging outfielder Taylor Ward from the Angels and signed All-Star closer Ryan Helsley.
Adding Tucker would give the Orioles an elite left-handed bat to pair with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and the rest of their young core.
His swing would also play well at Camden Yards, where left-handed hitters have historically thrived. If Baltimore lands Tucker, they could then package young outfielders like Colton Cowser or Dylan Beavers in trades to address their pitching needs.
The Orioles still have work to do if they want to compete in an AL East that sent three teams to the postseason in 2025, but talking to Tucker's camp is a sign that Baltimore is serious about getting back to contention.