Bo Bichette Is a Better Fit for the Dodgers Than Kyle Tucker

When the baseball offseason begins, everyone naturally assumes the Los Angeles Dodgers begin big-game hunting on the free-agent market.

For good reason, of course. They signed Freddie Freeman after 2021; designated hitter J.D. Martinez after 2022; Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto after 2023; Blake Snell and Tanner Scott after 2024. They’re the class of Major League Baseball for a reason, and perpetually elite because they address areas of weakness in dramatic fashion.

Even on the heels of back-to-back World Series, they’re not content. Given the holes on the Dodgers roster, if you can even call them holes, the consensus was they’d poach outfielder Kyle Tucker away from the Chicago Cubs.

While they still might, is outfield truly their biggest need?

Though manning the second base position were multiple postseason heroes, plus international free agent Hyeseong Kim, the Dodgers got just 2.5 fWAR from the position in 2025. Perhaps more importantly, they ranked 22nd in wRC+ from their second basemen.

With Mookie Betts coming off a down year with the bat, yet still maintaining an elite defensive shortstop, might complementing him with a marquee middle infielder make even more sense?

Like all other positions, it’s a pretty top-heavy free agent class at second base. Headlining it, thanks to physical limitations forcing him to showcase his ability there, is longtime Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette.

Going to a team with an elite shortstop may be ideal for the 27-year-old. But, for the Dodgers, coveting him makes even more sense than Tucker for a few reasons.

Dodgers Stadium is Better for Righties

Given the productivity of Freeman and Ohtani, it feels ironic to call Dodger Stadium a safe haven for right-handed bats. But since 2023, it actually is.

By ballpark factor, Dodger Stadium is the third-most hitter-friendly ballpark for righties overall, far and away in first place for home runs. As for lefties, it’s a more modest 17th-place tie in ballpark factor. While still fourth for home runs, it’s tied for 22nd in ballpark factor for hits.

Bichette isn’t known for hitting a ton of home runs, but Statcast had him situated with 21 expected round-trippers in Chavez Ravine in 2025.

We’ve seen in years past, righty bats go to Los Angeles and see upticks in power. Betts hit career-highs for homers in consecutive years in 2022 and 2023, and Teoscar Hernandez also did in 2024.

Bichette’s career-high is 29 back in 2021. If recent trends continue, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him as the latest to have a career year for the Dodgers.

Bichette is Better Suited as a Complementary Bat

While he had Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the franchise’s face and leading run producer, the Blue Jays counted a lot on Bichette to be the secondary source of run production.

With guys like Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, and Hernandez already rostered, Bichette becomes a table-setter.

Here’s a hypothetical lineup with Bichette:

Thinking construction-wise, even though Tucker is the better hitter and player, his value reduces in a lineup that limits his RBI opportunities. Hitting around several 25-plus-homer guys creates more opportunities with the bases empty.

For Bichette, that plays into his skillset. Sure, he’s a break from the unrelenting power, but he also becomes a table-setter for Muncy.

As a result, Muncy’s value is dramatically increased as a power source because his home runs are now coming with a man on base. Since 2023, it’s been a coin flip whether Muncy homers with the bases empty or not. Adding Bichette increases the likelihood there is.

Tucker’s Defense is Regressing

Unless you’re a transcendental offensive force like Ohtani or Juan Soto, defense plays a key factor in determining your value as a player.

While Tucker is hardly a defensive butcher, he’s been a negative outs above average defender two of the past three seasons. Additionally, he was negative in OAA and defensive runs saved in 2025. Now, his offense allowed him to remain a 4.5 fWAR player in 135 games, but his glove is waning.

Moreover, his arm strength regressed down 58th percentile in 2025.

Given rumors his contract exceeds $400 million over the span of a decade, it’s reasonable to assume the Dodgers may decide he isn’t worth that financial commitment. Injuries and regressing defense each playing a role in that decision.

Let’s not forget, they were only loosely involved in the Soto market last winter. Sure, they added Snell, Roki Sasaki, and others instead, but it’s not like they didn’t need an outfielder last winter. They opted instead for Michael Conforto, which didn’t stop them from winning it all.

Beyond 2026

A potential three-peat aside, the Dodgers have some question marks following the 2026 season. For starters, Muncy’s contract expires. They could always bring him back, but he’ll be 36 next offseason.

Bichette gives them cover for a Muncy departure. Along with Kim, who can continue to develop in Triple-A next season to ensure he’s ready for an increased role in 2027.

In addition to being cheaper, Bichette doesn’t block anybody aside from Kim and the veteran Rojas at in 2026. With Muncy a free agent after the season, opportunity re-emerges at least for Kim.

Signing Tucker creates fascinating trade opportunities for the Dodgers, but they’re not getting any younger. While the reign of dominance is addicting, at some point they’ll need to pass the torch to another infusion of youth.

In Double-A rests Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, and Mike Sirota, all of whom mashed in 2025. They also acquired James Tibbs III, a 2024 first-round pick, from Boston for Dustin May; he’s projected to open 2026 in Triple-A.

Outfield may not be a deep position in December for the Dodgers, but it could be as soon as June.

Not all of those guys can impact winning at the MLB level in Los Angeles in all likelihood — at least not all at once. However, there’s an abundance of young outfielders in the Dodgers organization deserving of an opportunity.

Tucker makes them better in the short term, absolutely. However, the Dodgers didn’t become the pinnacle of MLB greatness making short-sighted moves.

Bichette is the correct play for long-term sustainable greatness in Los Angeles, and general manager Andrew Friedman likely knows that.