Complete, insane details of Kyle Tucker's contract with Dodgers revealed

The Dodgers blew up baseball on Thursday night, when they signed Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal. The Mets had reportedly gone to four years and $220 million ($60 million a year for the first half, $50 million a year for the second) with a $75 million signing bonus, an opt-out after each of the second and third seasons, and no deferrals. The Blue Jays' terms are still unknown, though they were said to be willing to give Tucker long-term assurance.

The Mets offered just $20 million less than the Dodgers, $5 million less per year — an almost negligible amount when you're getting into numbers this big — a bigger signing bonus, and the same opt-outs as the Dodgers. But he still chose LA.

The initial four-year, $240 million agreement was reported by FanSided insider Robert Murray. Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported it included a $64 million signing bonus, $54 million of which was paid up front. And then, inevitably, the deferrals followed, but they're smaller than Dodgers fans expected. Only $30 million of the total (12.5%) is deferred.

Of course, the word "only" has to taken in context. This is still a mammoth, slightly logic-defying deal.

Kyle Tucker's four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers includes a huge signing bonus, opt-outs, and deferrals

Tucker's $60 million AAV makes him the second-highest-earning player in baseball behind only his now-teammate Shohei Ohtani, and leaves his could-be Mets teammate Juan Soto's $51 million a year in the dust.

Insiders suggested the Dodgers appeal to Tucker's reportedly more reserved personality by selling him on the idea that he wouldn't have to be "The Guy" in LA with Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (and so on) to take up all the spotlight. Mets and Blue Jays fans argued that he wouldn't really have to be The Guy in New York and Toronto either. But the Mets were more than willing to give Tucker top billing over their existing superstar. Pay a guy $60 million a year over your phenom, and they'll expect that guy to be The Guy.

Betts and Freeman might be making less money than Tucker, but they also have two MVPs and seven World Series rings split between them. And, of course, everyone pales in comparison to Ohtani whether or not you factor in money.

Tucker will slot perfectly into the heart of LA's order, underneath three future Hall of Famers. His addition gives a perfect balance to the Dodgers' unstoppable lineup. Of course the Dodgers were going to throw all of their weight into this deal.