The Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfield platoon has been one of the roster’s biggest weaknesses in 2025, with inconsistent hitting and poor defensive showings undermining a club otherwise built for another deep postseason run.
Teoscar Hernández, who started the season strong, has cooled off significantly in the second half. Given his defensive shortcomings, the Dodgers can ill afford his bat going silent for long stretches. Michael Conforto, signed to a one-year, $17 million deal last winter, has offered little relief. He’s hitting just .194 with a .632 OPS, and his defense has been nearly as concerning.
Advanced metrics reflect the problem clearly. Hernández carries an Outs Above Average (OAA) ranking of -9, placing him in the third percentile of qualified fielders. Conforto is only marginally better at -7 OAA, in the fifth percentile. Both players are liabilities in the corners, forcing more pressure on rookie Andy Pages, who has emerged as the Dodgers’ most dependable outfielder.
With the outfield flanking Pages continuing to drag, speculation has already turned toward free agency. And at the top of the market sits Kyle Tucker, the four-time All-Star currently starring for the Chicago Cubs.
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According to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, industry insiders believe the Dodgers are strongly positioned to make a serious push for Tucker. “The Los Angeles Dodgers, longtime fans of Tucker, were mentioned by a number of industry insiders,” McDaniel wrote. “We didn’t ask about a projected team, so the Dodgers coming up often seems to be indicative of a feeling in the industry that they’re the team to beat.”
McDaniel added that Tucker’s next deal could range between $300 and $400 million, aligning with what ESPN’s Jeff Passan has also reported.
Tucker, 28, has built an impressive resume. A four-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and Silver Slugger, he won a World Series with the Houston Astros before being traded to the Cubs. He’s currently hitting .270/.381/.472 with 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, and a 149 OPS+, nearly 50% above league average. His 4.7 WAR underscores his consistent value, even during a second half slowed by injuries.
Defensively, Tucker isn’t elite but would represent a clear upgrade. His OAA ranking sits in the 28th percentile, but his Arm Value is in the 86th percentile—far superior to what Conforto and Hernández have provided this year.
Dodgers vs. Yankees in Free Agency?
The Dodgers aren’t the only team linked to Tucker. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that rival executives expect the Cubs to be outbid and that Los Angeles is viewed as the favorite. But some analysts, including Jim Riley, believe the New York Yankees will be aggressive players.
“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.”
The Yankees have rebounded into playoff position after replacing Juan Soto by committee, but the allure of pairing Tucker with Aaron Judge is clear. Still, Los Angeles remains the team most often connected to Tucker thanks to their payroll flexibility and long-standing pursuit of star-level talent.
Friedman’s Next Big Swing?
Despite an already massive payroll, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has never shied away from making splash signings when he believes the fit is right. Adding Tucker would not only stabilize right field for the long term but also give Los Angeles another middle-of-the-order presence alongside Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.
With Conforto and Hernández struggling on both sides of the ball, the Dodgers’ outfield remains their most glaring weakness heading into the offseason. And with Tucker looming as the premier free agent prize, the noise around Los Angeles being “the team to beat” in the sweepstakes will only grow louder.
For now, Pages continues to hold down center field admirably. But the Dodgers’ October hopes—and perhaps their long-term vision—may depend on whether Friedman is willing to open the vault for Kyle Tucker this winter.
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez