hardball Joel Sherman Not all of MLB’s most lucrative offseason free agent deals paying off — with Dodgers at forefront By Joel Sherman Published May 16, 2026, 11:59 a.m. ET Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) reacts to striking out against the Miami Marlins during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Remember the fear and loathing that set in when the Dodgers flexed to seeming overkill to sign Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker? The two-time champions — the team that appeared to have it all — added the perceived best closer and position player in the previous free agent market.
Well, a funny thing has happened on the way to 162 wins:
Díaz, signed away from the Mets for three years at $69 million, was bad with a 10.50 ERA in seven outings, then needed surgery to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow that will keep him out at least until the second half, and recently was tied to involvement with cockfighting in his native Puerto Rico.
Tucker signed for $60 million per year — four years at $240 million with the ability to opt out after the second and third seasons. To date, he has played to the worst of his reputation: that despite his huge skills, he is more a complementary player than a star and that his defense, despite all the talk that it would be worked on and improved, is still average at best.
