Dodgers' Kyle Tucker stunner immediately changes Yankees' Cody Bellinger fate

Uncle Steve Cohen finally saw the smoke he was searching for just before 10:00 PM EST on Thursday night, as free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker informed the New York Mets that he had not chosen their offer, instead agreeing to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-time defending World Series champions seemed to be the third dog in the fight until the fight finished. Instead, the Mets and Toronto Blue Jays were left choking on the Dodgers' dust, which is something that seems to happen 100% of the time these days.

With Tucker's seismic decision, you can expect Cody Bellinger's market to heat up immediately - and while it's uncertain exactly how the dice will land, this choice probably helps the Yankees in that pursuit.

The Dodgers and Mets were the Yankees' rumored primary competition for Bellinger, as they sit waiting for a decision on a five-year offer worth between $150 and $160 million. Bellinger still seeks additional length, something the Mets have been entirely unwilling to give, to this point. In fact, the furthest they publicly went for Tucker was four years (at an exorbitant price).

A homecoming with the Dodgers always felt like a more natural Bellinger fit than Tucker's arrival. Maybe, if Scott Boras and Bellinger's camp got frustrated enough with the Yankees to break off talks, they'd be willing to accept an equivalent deal in LA (or even a shorter one) rather than waiting around for a higher bid?

We'll never know how the Dodgers would've factored in, though, as they've filled their outfield vacancy with the top player on the market. That's what championship teams with cash-powered ownership groups are supposed to do.

Kyle Tucker joining Los Angeles Dodgers removes a key Yankees competitor for Cody Bellinger, but creates more uncertainty

Just because the Dodgers seemed like the Yankees' most logical Bellinger competitor does not mean this is over.

There's always a chance that a scorned Steve Cohen will suddenly decide to authorize all seven years. There's nothing he enjoys more than stealing ex-Yankees, whether he's angry or contented. And right now he's angry.

Of course, that would require David Stearns' buy-in on a player the market has been quite hesitant to shower with cash thus far. Maybe the Angry Cohen pivot is another Yankees annoyance: Freddy Peralta.

And then there are the Blue Jays, who haven't been tied to Bellinger, but were rumored to be cooking up an overwhelmingly long Tucker proposal. Do they have revenge on their minds? Or are they too preoccupied with the real top dog, the Dodgers, to really care about what the Yankees are up to?

Either way, we should find out soon, and the sentimental Bellinger competitor is now off the market.

We think. It's the Dodgers. You can never be too careful.