LOS ANGELES — With about a month to go until Spring Training, could the high end of the free-agent market be on the verge of heating up?
The Cubs agreed to a deal with third baseman Alex Bregman on Saturday, taking one of the top available hitters off the board. Not long after, MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette reported that outfielder Kyle Tucker — considered the best free agent this offseason — had met with his top suitors: the Blue Jays, Dodgers and Mets.
The Dodgers made a splash during the Winter Meetings by signing closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal, but other than that, they’ve had a relatively quiet offseason. They believe that they already have the talent and depth for a bid at a three-peat — but when it comes to acquiring the top available talent, Los Angeles can never be counted out.
Tucker is believed to be seeking a longer-term deal, and it would be surprising if the Dodgers took on another contract of that ilk. But if Tucker doesn’t receive the offers he’s looking for and becomes open to a shorter-term contract with a high average annual value, then he could be a prime target for L.A.
It could end up being a worthwhile arrangement for Tucker, too. Case in point: Bregman, who opted out after the first season of a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox before landing his reported five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs this offseason.
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for and against the Dodgers signing Tucker:
Why Tucker could be a fit for the Dodgers
It’s not hard to argue that the consensus top free agent would help any given team, and Tucker would fill quite a few needs for Los Angeles.
Among the weak points of their 2025 outfield: They got on base at a .299 clip (26th in MLB) and struck out at a 23.7% clip (20th). Tucker could help lift the position group in both regards, as he walked (87 times) nearly as often as he struck out (88) last season. He had a .377 on-base percentage and a strikeout rate of 14.7%, which ranked in the 85th percentile among qualified Major Leaguers.
Tucker doesn’t grade out as well defensively (-2 outs above average in 2025), but he would still be an upgrade over Hernández, whose -9 OAA ranked fourth worst among qualified right fielders. Overall, bringing in a talent like Tucker would raise both the floor and the ceiling for Los Angeles’ outfield.
Why Tucker might not be a fit for the Dodgers
The primary reasons that the Dodgers might not go all in for Tucker are more logistical. Tucker rejected a qualifying offer from the Cubs, meaning that signing him would come with penalties that would be steeper for the Dodgers, who are Competitive Balance Tax payors and have already signed a player with a QO attached this offseason.
Signing Díaz, who rejected a QO from the Mets, caused the Dodgers to forfeit their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2026 MLB Draft and $1 million from their international bonus pool. Another such signing would cause them to lose their third- and sixth-highest picks as well.
Losing Draft picks was not a decision the Dodgers took lightly, as they pride themselves on contending in the present while preparing for the future. L.A. has built a robust farm system despite consistently picking late in the Draft, and it was ranked as the best in baseball in a recent executive poll by MLB Pipeline.
The long-term future of the system is one consideration. The nearer future might be another. The Dodgers have a wealth of outfield prospects, including top prospect (MLB No. 13) Josue De Paula, who should be knocking on the door of the Majors in the next year or two.
A shorter-term deal with Tucker could be the bridge to when those young players are ready to be everyday contributors, or it could limit their opportunities to get their feet wet in the Majors. There’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer for the Dodgers, but they’ll have to keep that balance in mind.
