LOS ANGELES -- When it comes to improving a core that has already won back-to-back World Series championships, the Dodgers felt that they've been setting a high bar as they assemble a roster that can contend for a three-peat, all while keeping the long-term health of the organization in mind.
The way they saw it, they had enough talent already where they didn't necessarily need to sign the consensus top free agent on the market. But the prospect of bringing in Kyle Tucker was too good to pass up.
"When we started the offseason, and talking about various fits on the trade market, free-agent market," president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, "there was really nobody that moved our World Series odds for 2026 more than Kyle Tucker."
After Tucker's four-year, $240 million contract became official and he donned his new No. 23 jersey on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers envisioned what their loaded lineup would look like with yet another star this coming season. Manager Dave Roberts said Tucker will likely hit in the top third of the order and play right field, shifting Teoscar Hernández over to left.
Here's how a full-strength Dodgers lineup could look in 2026:
Shohei Ohtani, DH
Mookie Betts, SS
Kyle Tucker, RF
Will Smith, C
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Teoscar Hernández, LF
Max Muncy, 3B
Andy Pages, CF
Tommy Edman, 2B
Tucker's addition would shake up the top of the Dodgers' order, which has been led by their trio of MVPs -- Ohtani, Betts and Freeman -- the past two seasons. Freeman could slide down to the cleanup spot rather than fifth, but L.A. tends to prefer not to bat lefty hitters back-to-back when possible, especially not against tough left-handed pitching.
Freeman will be one of the Dodgers' older position players next year, his age-36 season, but he remains one of the team's most impactful bats. He hasn't started in the five-hole or lower since 2016. That he might find himself hitting in the second half of the order is a testament to the length of this lineup.
"I'm just excited to be a part of that group and just trying to build myself up on a personal level, but also contribute with everyone else," Tucker said. "Obviously I think playing for a winning ballclub, which this team is, it just makes it a lot more fun. It makes it exciting to go out there every single day. We play so many games that it can kind of get to you a little bit, but working with this group of guys, I think it's gonna make it a lot of fun throughout the whole year."
Tucker comes to L.A. as a four-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and a Gold Glover. He's played in seven straight postseasons, and he knows what it takes to go all the way, as his Astros won the World Series in 2022. He brings understated star power and experience to a Dodgers team that already has it in spades.
And yet, the team believes he could get even better as a Dodger.
"I think there's another Gold Glove in there," Roberts said. "I think that having a lot of people around him, I think there's more runs scored in there. I think he's going to have the ability to drive in runs.
"As a coach, you're trying to make players better. He's a five-tool player. … I do think that Kyle's mindset on the micro, the day to day, just winning a baseball game, that is in line with what we do."
With Tucker's deal official, the Dodgers have addressed their two most glaring needs this offseason. They improved their outfield with the best outfielder on the market. They bolstered their bullpen with the best reliever on the market earlier in the winter by signing closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal.
L.A. may not be done just yet this offseason. The club always does its due diligence when it sees an opportunity to improve. But any additions aren't expected to be as earth-shattering as the move to bring in Tucker.
"In terms of more seismic changes," Friedman said, "I think we're pretty well set."