According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be among the teams pursuing All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker when he hits free agency this winter.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to jump into the free-agent fray for Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker this winter,” Nightengale wrote. “They may not be the high bidder, but they’ll surely keep everyone honest just as they did when they were in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.”
The Dodgers were heavily connected to Soto during the 2024 offseason before he ultimately signed a record $765 million deal with the New York Mets. Soto’s market was one of the most anticipated in recent memory, as he was just 26 years old and coming off a stellar season with the Yankees, who advanced to the World Series against Los Angeles. His age, production, and marketability made him determined to surpass Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract signed the year prior.
When Soto landed with the Mets, the Dodgers pivoted by spreading their resources across multiple acquisitions. They signed Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal, added Michael Conforto for $17 million, brought back Teoscar Hernández, and fortified their bullpen with Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates. While those moves strengthened the roster, the outfield has remained an area of uncertainty.
This season, the Dodgers have rotated Conforto, Hernández, and Andy Pages in the outfield. While highly regarded prospects Zyhir Hope and Josue De Paula offer future promise, neither is considered ready for full-time major league contributions. Tucker, meanwhile, could provide the Dodgers with long-term stability and immediate production.
At 28 years old, Tucker is in the prime of his career and has been among the most consistent outfielders in baseball. Through this season with Chicago, he is hitting .270 with a .381 on-base percentage, a .472 slugging percentage, and 22 home runs. Tucker was named an All-Star once again in 2025 and is expected to command a contract nearing $500 million in free agency.
Traded from the Houston Astros to the Cubs, Tucker has not engaged in extension talks with Chicago, making it increasingly likely he will test the market. For the Dodgers, the question becomes whether to invest heavily in another superstar or allow their young talent to prove themselves at the big-league level.
Either way, the Dodgers’ pursuit of Tucker is sure to keep fans and the free-agent market on edge this winter.