The Los Angeles Dodgers rocked the baseball world with the signing of top free agent Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract, adding him to a roster full of All-Stars. 

As a result, fans who were already frustrated with the lopsidedness of the state of MLB with no salary cap have transitioned to anger. Below are just a couple of the reactions on social media from disgruntled onlookers: 

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee show, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan displayed an understanding for those frustrated by the Dodgers’ latest move, starting with the money the organization spent to acquire Tucker. 

“Let's start with the dollar figures because that is why, Pat, they were going after you,” Passan said. “And, you know, we saw last year with Juan Soto getting $51 million dollars a year over 15 years setting a new mark for contracts, not just in baseball, but across all of major professional sports.

"It was an enormous deal and I thought it was going to be a long time until that average annual value was beaten," Passan said.  

“It lasted all of one year, because there weren't a whole lot of deferrals, $30 million out of the $240 million that the Dodgers gave Kyle Tucker for four seasons. It takes the average annual value down to $57.1 million a year. This looks like an NBA contract. It looks like a Supermax.” 

According to Passan, the reason the Dodgers chose to offer this type of contract to Tucker is largely due to his age. 

“It's one of those types of deals. And the reason that the Dodgers are doing it is very simple: Because Kyle Tucker is 28 years old, and they are getting those prime seasons," Passan said.

"And in the case of Juan Soto's contract, had he gone for something shorter term; he might have gotten $70 or $80 or $90 million a year in this market. He chose the long -term guarantee.

“What Tucker gets is the optionality with opt -outs after years two and three, where if he can get that longer -term deal and go back out onto the market after a great season, he's going to do that.

"I think the anger, Pat, from baseball fans is understandable," Passan continued. "It is warranted, and it's illustrative of what the game is right now and what both owners and players need to do as the collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1st.” 

If MLB does not reach a new CBA, then it is at risk of a lockout in 2027. 

“And what its fans are saying right now is this system that has worked and operated with no salary cap for the entirety of baseball history really has been wonderful to players and it's been great to the game,” Passan added.

“And you don't necessarily need a cap to achieve what fans want. That, at the end of the day, is what this story needs to be and what it should be about.” 

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