Picture this: The Los Angeles Dodgers, already a powerhouse, potentially snagging MLB's next big free agent star—could Kyle Tucker be the key to extending their championship reign?
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a history of pulling out their checkbooks for the biggest names in free agency, and this upcoming offseason looks like it might follow suit.
In a piece for FanSided, Robert Murray spotlighted the Dodgers as an ideal destination for Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, who's poised to hit the free market after the World Series wraps up. Tucker stands out as one of baseball's elite talents, poised for a lucrative deal following a strong 2025 campaign. He's earned All-Star nods in each of the past four seasons, boasting an OPS (that's On-base Plus Slugging—a stat combining a player's ability to get on base and hit for power) over .800 every year since 2019. Sure, injuries have been a hurdle in the last couple of seasons, but he's still managed to smash more than 20 home runs annually since 2021, showcasing his resilience and skill.
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As Murray put it, 'Tucker is this winter’s biggest fish,' and he's likely to land a mega-contract in the neighborhood of $400 million. 'He can hit. He plays stellar defense in the outfield. He can run the bases at a high level. Yes, while he struggled at times this season, most of those issues can be traced to a fractured finger that he attempted to play through.'
With so many teams vying for Tucker's services, the bidding could skyrocket, making it challenging for the Cubs to retain their star.
But here's where it gets controversial... Tucker seems like a perfect match for the Dodgers, who will need solid outfield depth when free agency kicks in. Their left field spot has been shaky all season. They brought in Michael Conforto before the 2025 season to cover left, but he underperformed badly during the regular season and hasn't made the cut for any of the Dodgers' playoff lineups so far.
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Tucker, with his league-average defense skills, could seamlessly fit into right field, allowing Teoscar Hernandez to handle left—the role he filled for the Dodgers in 2024.
The Dodgers are already stacked with talent going into next year, planning to keep all their core stars from this season. Adding a top hitter like Tucker would ensure they remain serious contenders for titles for years to come.
That said, according to Spotrac, Tucker's market value sits at a 10-year, $400 million deal, so the Dodgers would have to commit a fortune to make this happen. And this is the part most people miss... Is dropping that kind of cash worth it, especially when some might argue the team could invest in younger prospects or other free agents instead? It's a debate that's sure to divide fans.
For more Dodgers updates, check out Dodgers on SI.
(https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers)
What do you think? Should the Dodgers go all-in on Tucker, or are there better ways to spend that money? Do you believe his injury history is a red flag, or is it just a minor hiccup for a talent like him? Drop your opinions in the comments—let's discuss!
