Dodgers' Kyle Tucker reveals brutal reason he chose LA over the Blue Jays in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays were all-in on Kyle Tucker during the offseason, and for a time, they were considered the favorites to land him. The Blue Jays even hosted Tucker for a visit during the winter.

“The Blue Jays might just be getting started. Kyle Tucker, the top player in this winter’s free-agent class, visited with the Blue Jays at their player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson wrote.

After the visit, everything appeared to be trending upward for Toronto, which had just fallen short of a World Series title. However, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers that ultimately signed the top free agent of the offseason.

“Kyle Tucker, the consensus best player available in free agency, agreed to join the Dodgers on Thursday, sources told ESPN, a little more than a month after star closer Edwin Diaz did the same. Tucker's deal is for four years at $240 million and includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote.

The Blue Jays and Dodgers recently faced off in a three-game series, and Tucker was asked about choosing Los Angeles over Toronto. He had this to say:

“I was just trying to make the most of the rest of my career,” Tucker said. “You don’t play this game forever, so I was trying to make the most out of it wherever I felt the best landing spot was for me and my family. That was California.”

While Tucker didn’t explicitly say it, his comments suggest he believed the Dodgers offered a better opportunity to win a World Series than the Blue Jays. He is now looking to make a major impact on an already loaded roster.

The Dodgers once again made the biggest signing of the offseason and continue to position themselves as perennial World Series contenders. It appears Tucker ultimately chose Los Angeles for its strong championship outlook.

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