Free agent outfielder remains on the market and the Dodgers are a team with lots of money. Could this be a good marriage between franchise and outfielder?
As the legendary Maxwell Smart (comedian Don Adams) might ask on "Get Smart," "Would you believe that Kyle Tucker is still on the market?"
Yes, Los Angeles Dodgers fans, Tucker, who has been touted as the best outfielder and even player on the free agent market this offseason, still has no contract.
Tucker cut his teeth with the Houston Astros and won a championship with the ballclub. Last season, Tucker roamed the outfield at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs.
But he headed out to the free agent market this offseason, looking for a better deal and, well, an even better team.
This begs the question: Would Tucker be a good fit for the Dodgers, a team that definitely could use an upgrade in the outfield?
Dodgers reporter Sonja Chen of MLB.com looked at this possibility in her latest story.
"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," Chen wrote.
"Tucker would add a left-handed bat to a predominantly right-handed starting-outfield mix that features Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages," Chen continued. "(The Dodgers are also expecting to be able to play switch-hitting utility man Tommy Edman in the outfield once he recovers from right ankle surgery.) In 2025, the Dodgers' outfield ranked 17th in the Majors with 4.8 bWAR."
While Tucker is worth kicking the tires on for his hitting ability, that outfield play of his isn't much to write home about. Still, as Chen pointed out, Tucker would be an upgrade from Hernández.
OK, so now that there are some details on the pro side of signing Tucker, what are some of the negative aspects of adding him? Chen covers those points, too.
"The primary reasons that the Dodgers might not go all in for Tucker are more logistical," Chen points out. "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."
Who is that player? Why, of course it's free agent fireballing reliever Edwin Díaz. Chen stated that 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."
Tucker would be a solid addition, no doubt, to the Dodgers. Is he worth the risk, though? Is he worth getting before the regular season starts? Will he be healthy all season long?
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman will have to think long and hard about potentially signing Tucker. It's not a cut-and-dried situation, either.
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