The Los Angeles Dodgers need to strengthen their outfield after Michael Conforto left the organization, so the name of Kyle Tucker has been strongly mentioned in the franchise as a possible reinforcement, who would add a lot of experience to a roster that has dominated MLB with a National League and World Series championship.
However, according to information from USA Today, despite there being interest, the Dodgers may not go all in on Tucker, who is one of the most coveted free agents in Major League Baseball. According to Bob Nightengale, Los Angeles prefer to focus their money on rebuilding their bullpen, which had its fair share of problems in crucial moments in 2025.
The organization has freed up $87 million in payroll so it is analyzing its moves before investing in a star that could cost them more than $400 million.
Dodgers prioritize bullpen in free agency: What about Kyle Tucker?
The Dodgers’ internal analysis points to bolstering their bullpen because they consider it the most urgent thing on the roster, a situation that was evident with Tanner Scott, who posted a 4.74 ERA and blew 10 of 33 save opportunities.
Nightengale details that the Dodgers are interested in Kyle Tucker, but they have also decided not to compete with multi-million dollar offers that could come from the Yankees, Mets or Blue Jays. For the organization, it is more important to find a reliable closer, with names such as Edwin Diaz and Devin Williams appearing on the list, although the leading candidate is Pete Fairbanks.
Pete Fairbanks the main object of desire for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2026
Fairbank emerges as the most profitable and realistic option for the Dodgers, the pitcher is coming off a campaign with a 2.83 ERA in 61 appearances on the mound, who is shaping up as the ideal candidate to close games. And one of the details that Los Angeles management values most is that he is priced lower than Diaz or Suarez, which would allow more players to arrive.Although they have the need for an impact outfielder following the departure of Michael Conforto, the team has internal options and other less expensive free agents than Kyle Tucker, which shows that the team has a good idea of what it will do this market, prioritizing its needs without wasting money that could help them in other positions.
If the Dodgers want to continue to dominate Major League Baseball, they will need to address the needs or areas that caused Dave Roberts the most headaches, with the bullpen being the most important, and then decide whether to go for star outfielder Kyle Tucker, but for that they will have to fight with a lot of money and perhaps that is the option that will keep him away from the World Series champions.
Read the full article here
