The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been linked to Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker, who is expected to be the premier free agent on the market this offseason. But according to one analyst, the Dodgers’ most glaring need could go unfilled if the New York Yankees decide to flex their financial muscle.
The Yankees, who retooled their roster after losing Juan Soto to the Mets last winter, currently hold the top American League Wild Card spot. A patchwork group of additions—including Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams—has kept them afloat, but the loss of Soto’s left-handed power still looms large.
That’s where Tucker comes in.
Tucker’s Fit in the Bronx
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Analyst Jim Riley believes the Yankees are the team most likely to land Tucker, even with the Dodgers widely viewed as the frontrunners.
“I believe in the end the New York Yankees will win that bidding war,” Riley said. “To pair Judge with a dangerous lefty hitter again (after Soto), bang, bang, one-two, that’s a power combo right here, Tucker and Judge, and I think the Yankees want that. I think they won’t be outbid, they won’t take no for an answer, and I see Tucker in pinstripes.”
It’s easy to see why. Tucker, 28, brings not only power but also balance to a Yankees lineup that leans heavily right-handed. He owns a .270/.381/.472 slash line this year with 22 homers, 77 RBIs, and a 149 OPS+, and his track record includes four All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove, and a World Series ring with Houston.
Dodgers’ Outfield Problem
For the Dodgers, Tucker has seemed like the perfect answer to their biggest roster hole. The outfield has been a liability in 2025, particularly at the corners.
Teoscar Hernández, who carried the team early in the season, has cooled off and remains a defensive risk. Michael Conforto has been worse—hitting just .194 with a .632 OPS while ranking in the bottom five percent of fielders by Outs Above Average.
Those struggles have placed enormous pressure on rookie Andy Pages, who has become the team’s most reliable outfielder. But if the Dodgers are to maximize their championship window with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, a long-term star like Tucker in the outfield seems almost essential.
As ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently wrote, “The Los Angeles Dodgers, longtime fans of Tucker, were mentioned by a number of industry insiders… the Dodgers coming up often seems to be indicative of a feeling in the industry that they’re the team to beat.”
Yankees vs. Dodgers in Free Agency
The market for Tucker could quickly become a two-team race. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported that rival executives expect the Cubs to be outbid, with the Dodgers favored. Riley, however, insists the Yankees will ultimately outspend everyone.
That possibility raises the stakes for both franchises. The Yankees have the motivation to replace Soto’s production and give Aaron Judge a left-handed partner in the lineup. The Dodgers, meanwhile, need a steady corner outfielder to shore up their weakest unit and extend their championship core.
Tucker is expected to command a deal in the $300–$400 million range, according to both McDaniel and ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Friedman’s Next Big Test
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has rarely backed away from a major financial commitment when the fit is undeniable. Adding Tucker would give Los Angeles a long-term answer in right field and another elite bat to anchor the lineup.
But if Riley’s prediction comes true, the Yankees could steal the Dodgers’ top target before Friedman even makes his move. For now, the “Tucker Watch” remains speculative. Yet as the offseason approaches, it’s clear both the Yankees and Dodgers view him as a potential franchise-changing addition.
And only one of them will win the bidding war.