Astros' Tucker disagrees with arbitration case ruling

Outfielder Kyle Tucker will earn $5 million this season after losing his arbitration case against the Houston Astros, but the 26-year-old said he believes the ruling wasn't correct.

"The outcome wasn't what we were hoping, and I don't think it was the right one," Tucker said, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Tucker requested a $7.5-million salary, with the team countering at $5 million.

Tucker admitted it was "a little tough" to hear some of what the Astros said about him during the arbitration process but added that the team didn't "trash him," per Rome.

Tucker has another two years of arbitration eligibility remaining before he's scheduled to reach free agency at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said earlier this offseason that he was hopeful of signing Tucker to a long-term extension and that the two sides had held discussions.

Tucker has blossomed into one of baseball's best players over his five seasons in Houston. He owns a career .268/.335/.502 slash line with 73 home runs, 256 RBIs, and 53 stolen bases across 398 games.

Tucker's best season came in 2022. He made his first All-Star Game while hitting 30 home runs for the second consecutive year.