How three top MLB free agents could fit with Dodgers

As they gear up to chase a third straight World Series title, the Dodgers might not be done just yet.

Los Angeles has been connected to each of the top three free-agent hitters still available this offseason. Outfielders Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger and shortstop Bo Bichette have all been linked to L.A. in some fashion, although the Dodgers are more likely to be opportunistic than aggressive when it comes to a big free-agent bat.

After third baseman Alex Bregman reached a reported five-year deal with the Cubs on Saturday, Tucker, Bellinger and Bichette are a cut above the rest of the hitters currently on the open market. But which of the three might be the best fit in Dodger blue?

Here’s how each star hitter could fit the Dodgers — in 2026 and potentially beyond.

One of the Dodgers’ few relative weaknesses is their corner outfield, so signing Tucker — the offseason’s top free agent — would be an ideal way to address that need. In 2025, Michael Conforto struggled as L.A.’s main left fielder, while Teoscar Hernández displayed defensive woes in right. A better hitter and fielder than both, Tucker would instantly become one of the biggest bats in the Dodgers’ deep and dangerous lineup and a potential franchise cornerstone.

Adding Tucker, a left-handed hitter, would allow Los Angeles to deploy an impressive lefty-righty balance in its starting nine. Tucker fits well alongside lefties Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, while Hernández, Mookie Betts and Will Smith all hit right-handed. Of all those star players, only Muncy is a free agent after 2026, so Tucker — if signed to a multiyear deal — would be part of an established core built to contend year after year.

Signing Tucker would likely bump Hernández back to left field, where Hernández spent most of his time as a first-year Dodger in 2024. Tucker would be a considerable offensive upgrade over Conforto, who batted just .199 with a .638 OPS in 2025. Hernández had a -9 Fielding Run Value in 2025 and Conforto had a -8 mark, so Tucker’s league-average defense would be an improvement, too.

A patient hitter with power (he’s slugged 22 or more home runs in each of the past five seasons), Tucker would also take the Dodgers’ team speed up a notch. In 2025, he reached the 25-steal plateau for the third time in his career. For an L.A. squad tied for 21st in the Majors with 88 total swipes last season, Tucker could unlock another dimension on the basepaths. There’s a reason the 28-year-old is MLB’s top free agent, and he would likely be the best fit for the Dodgers among the three top-tier players available on the open market.

Like Tucker, Bellinger would help the Dodgers address their deficiency in the corner outfield. But the former Dodger comes with more defensive versatility: Bellinger made at least 40 appearances at all three outfield spots for the Yankees in 2025. He also owns considerable experience at first base, the position he primarily played during his first two years in Dodger blue.

Bellinger saw the most time (85 appearances) in left field for the Yankees in 2025, earning down-ballot American League MVP Award votes after being acquired in a trade with the Cubs. He posted a .272/.334/.480 slash line with 29 homers and 13 steals while cutting his strikeout rate to a career-low 13.7%, which ranked in the top 10 percent of Major League hitters. Factoring in his excellent defense (+9 Fielding Run Value), Bellinger’s 5.1 bWAR was his highest total since he put up 8.7 bWAR to win 2019 NL MVP honors with the Dodgers.

Needless to say, a repeat performance would make Bellinger a welcome addition to L.A.’s lineup. He could be an easy replacement for Conforto in left field or could take over for Andy Pages in center field, although Pages proved to be one of MLB’s best defenders in 2025. With his multipositional experience, Bellinger has the ability to spell Pages in center, Hernández in right and even Freeman at first base if needed.

Bellinger doesn’t quite have the patience nor the speed of Tucker, but he’d still be an important lefty bat behind Ohtani and Freeman for the Dodgers’ three-peat chase in 2026. With Freeman’s contract up after 2027, Bellinger could even be a long-term answer at first if he’s no longer a plus defender in the outfield. If he does reunite with L.A. in free agency, his versatility could go a long way.

Bichette, who doesn’t turn 28 until March 5, is one of the youngest free agents on the market. If he and the Dodgers can agree on a lengthy contract, he could be part of L.A.’s core for a considerable time — and he could be a good fit at one of the club’s weakest positions.

No Dodger started more than 60 games at second base in 2025, but Bichette could change that if he lands in Los Angeles. While Bichette has never played a position other than shortstop in the Major Leagues, he has expressed a willingness to move to second for the right club. With Betts entrenched at shortstop for the Dodgers, Bichette would take over the keystone from a group of players that included Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland in 2025.

Dodgers second basemen had an OPS of only .649 (24th among MLB clubs) in 2025, so Bichette would be a major upgrade. He owns a career .294 average and has posted an OPS above .800 in all but one season, an injury-marred 2024 in which Bichette posted a .225/.277/.322 slash line in 81 games. Bichette showed off his skills during a bounce-back 2025, batting .311 with 18 homers and an .840 OPS — and taking Ohtani deep for a three-run homer in Game 7 of the World Series.

Bichette hit primarily in the leadoff spot for the Blue Jays in 2025 but also spent significant time batting cleanup. With the Dodgers, the right-handed hitter would likely fit into the middle of the order with Hernández, Muncy and Smith. Given his contact skills and his ability to hit for power, Bichette could also supplant Betts toward the top of the order if Betts’ 2025 struggles continue.