By Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal

As team executives, league officials and player agents gather at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas this week for Major League Baseball’s general manager meetings, Kyle Tucker will be a much-discussed name.

The consensus No. 1 player in this class of free agents, Tucker has a sterling resume that includes four All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger awards, one Gold Glove and a World Series championship. He will turn 29 before Opening Day next year, a key distinction in an industry that values under-30 players as a way to manage risk.

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Those power brokers also know the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2026 season, creating additional uncertainty about which ownership groups are willing to spend big this winter or more inclined to save for the future.

Another timing element is Tucker coming off an injury-plagued season that limited him to 136 games. Even the top free agents this offseason could be facing some headwinds.

The unique conditions that recently fueled Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million megadeal and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 14-year, $500 million contract extension may not be there right now.

Tucker is well-liked by teammates, with a dry sense of humor, a consistent bearing and an ability to fit into the clubhouse. But his low-key personality does not make him a natural fit for certain responsibilities that come with being the face of a franchise.

Still, Tucker’s freedom to negotiate with all 30 teams represents a rare opportunity to sign an elite left-handed hitter with well-rounded skills, extensive postseason experience and a first-round pedigree. His salary next season will be astronomical.

The questions revolve around whether it will take close to a decade-long commitment, and how many hundreds of millions of dollars.

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