Dodgers Analysis: Bichette vs. Tucker: Who Fits the Dodgers Better?

LOS ANGELES, CA—It’s hard to believe, but the 2026 Major League Baseball season is less than two months away, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report for several teams in early February.

Despite the season being so close, multiple high-level free agents still remain on the open market, including Bo Bichette of the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays and four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs.

Unsurprisingly, both star players have been connected with the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who, despite winning it all in consecutive seasons, are looking to upgrade their roster as they prepare for a three-peat.

While the rumor mill will remain active until either player signs, the Dodgers’ connection to both players is an intriguing topic of debate among the fan base, raising the question: Who would benefit the Dodgers the most?

The Contract

Entering the offseason, it was a no-brainer that both Bichette and Tucker, the two top position player free agents in many fans’ eyes, would fetch a long-term big money contract, yet as we move through the winter, that has yet to be the case.

Tucker, 28, was the consensus No. 1 free agent in this year’s class, projected by FanGraphs to fetch an 8-year, $280 million deal, with other media outlets pushing the figure over $300 million should the former Houston Astros create a bidding war among competing clubs.

Yet as we approach mid-January, there have been no signs that Tucker will even fetch that deal.

The reported serious suitors for Tucker are few and far between, with the Dodgers being one of the clubs on the outside looking in, hoping his market dips so far that he’d be willing to take a short-term high-AAV deal.

The Blue Jays, the team that fell just two outs away from a World Series title, have been the lone team reported to be willing to match Tucker’s long-term goals, but a deal does not seem to be close.

The Chicago Cubs, Tucker’s 2025 team after being shipped off by Houston last offseason, have been open about moving on from the All-Star outfielder this winter, despite having the revenue stream to keep him.

The New York Yankees and New York Mets have kept tabs on Tucker’s market. Still, the Mets have had a questionable offseason, taking multiple steps back despite signing outfielder Juan Soto to an MLB-record contract last winter. In contrast, the Yankees have their own free agent, Cody Bellinger, to worry about.

With Bichette, his offseason theory was very different from what he and his camp had hoped.

While the 27-year-old shortstop had a better season in 2025 (.311/.357/.483, 134 wRC+) than his career-worst 2024 season (.225/.277/.322, 70 wRC+), teams are still hesitant to provide Bo with the long-term deal he expected to receive.

Like Tucker, Bichette was expected to secure a long-term contract of about 7 years and over $190 million. However, as spring training approaches, Bichette might be considering more short-term deal options.

Bichette has been connected to several teams as the winter progresses, with a possible reunion with the Blue Jays on the table, though complicated by Toronto’s recent signing of Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year contract.

Other options include the Boston Red Sox, who are still hopeful of re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman, and, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Philadelphia Phillies, Yankees, and Cubs have all checked in on Bo in recent weeks.

While both players could still secure their preferred long-term deals, the odds seem more favorable to a short-term approach, which, in my opinion, makes the Dodgers a logical fit for both players.

If Tucker gets the long-term deal he wants in free agency, I find it hard to imagine the Dodgers would be the team to offer it, especially with their books already tied up in multiple massive long-term deals and millions of deferred payments in the foreseeable future.

Even if Bo gets the long-term commitment from teams, he’s making far less dollar-wise than Tucker, which could still keep the Dodgers interested, as the team does not have any logical long-term options at shortstop, third base, or second base after the 2026 season.

The Fit

Entering the offseason, one area of concern for the Dodgers was their outfield.

Despite re-signing fan-favorite Teoscar Hernández to a multi-year deal last winter, the 2024 National League All-Star took multiple steps back offensively and was one of the worst defensive right fielders in baseball.

The Dodgers’ one-year flier contract on Michael Conforto backfired badly, with the left-handed hitter among the worst-qualified hitters in baseball.

Then you have the multiple free agents on the team, including utilityman Kiké Hernández, who was the starting left fielder throughout the postseason last October.

While the team does have some internal options such as top prospect Ryan Ward, who was added to the team’s 40-man roster in November, and Alex Call, who was acquired at this past trade deadline, they’ve been heavily invested in multiple names on the free agent and trade market such as Steven Kwan, Cody Bellinger and possibly Kyle Tucker.

Whatever contract Tucker gets, the immediate fit would be perfect for the 2026 Dodgers.

Firstly, Teoscar and his -9 OAA would move to left field, where he played most of the 2024 season, and, while not any better, would feel less pressure from the more demanding right field.

While Tucker is not an elite fielder, he ranked in the 52nd percentile in fielding run value, a massive improvement over what the Dodgers currently have.

Tucker would also be another left-handed hitting option, which the Dodgers’ offense lacks outside of four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and the often-injured Max Muncy.

However, from the Dodgers’ front office perspective, the idea of shelling out another possible long-term contract for an aging outfielder nearing his 30s would be problematic with the sheer amount of minor league talent set to debut in the next few years.

The immediate options from the Dodgers’ minor league system would be the already mentioned Ryan Ward, who has a good shot at making the team’s Opening Day roster if they do not make any significant upgrades.

Then you have James Tibbs III, who the Dodgers acquired last summer from the Red Sox in the Dustin May trade, as the former first-round pick had a .900 OPS with Double-A Tulsa last year and is near MLB-ready at 23 years old.

Then you have the top “dawgs” in the pipeline, headlined by the trio of Josue De Paula (MLB No. 13), Zyhir Hope (MLB No. 20), and Mike Sirota (MLB No. 64), along with rising prospect 20-year-old Eduardo Quintero (MLB No. 34).

If the Dodgers add Tucker, they’d need to move on from a few of these names, especially as they approach becoming Rule-5 eligible and losing them for nothing.

But as the motto goes, parades over prospects, so there’s a world where Andrew Freidman and Co. do a deal and make it work anyway.

Then you have the idea of adding Bo Bichette, who, up until the tail end of this season, played every inning of his Major League career at shortstop before a knee injury would force him to second base in the Fall Classic.

The Dodgers will yet again go with veteran right-handed hitter Mookie Betts at shortstop after the former six-time Gold Glove Award winner was a finalist for the award in his first full season at the new position.

While the Dodgers have a few internal options to use at second base such as Tommy Edman (nursing ankle surgery and could miss start of season), Hyeseong Kim (-4 wRC+ in the second half of the regular season) and possibly Alex Freeland who has played all over the middle infield in the minor leagues, Bichette would be a massive upgrade over all of them.

Then there is the long-term outlook for Bichette and the Dodgers, with veteran third baseman Max Muncy entering the final year of his contract and the team having no logical options in the pipeline beyond Freeland.

Like Tucker, Bichette’s short- and long-term fit would align with the Dodgers’ plans and give the team another right-handed power hitter, a role they lacked last season due to down seasons by Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández.

What’s the Consensus?

Overall, the Dodgers can’t go wrong with either player, as each has its own positives and negatives, as with any player in baseball.

Still, my personal thoughts would be that Bo Bichette is the better short-term and long-term plan, as even if he gets the six-plus-year deal he’s seeking, he’d be significantly cheaper than the possible $300 million deal Tucker is asking for, while also filling in multiple holes in the Dodgers’ infield for 2026 and beyond.

The Dodgers’ infield is likely their top concern after the 2026 season, as veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman will be entering the last year of his 6-year, $162 million contract in 2027. Max Muncy will also be a free agent after 2026, and although Mookie Betts made a decent transition to shortstop this past season, he cannot play that position indefinitely.

As for the Dodgers outfield, the minor league pipeline is loaded with outfield talent, with many top prospects expected to achieve big things, but at the end of the day, they’re just prospects, so counting on them is a risk, rather than signing the proven MLB talent in Tucker.

Still, it seems like it is a two-team race between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays, with the Blue Jays being the Dodgers’ most significant challenge this offseason, but if I had to guess, Tucker signs with the Jays, and I’m still to-be-determined in Los Angeles, really goes after Bichette.

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