The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest signing of the offseason so far Thursday evening, signing All-Star free agent Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal.
Tucker is a huge addition for the Dodgers, who have been aching for outfield help since before the 2025 regular season. With two All-Stars — Tucker and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez — available to man the corner outfield positions, the Dodgers have a brand new look to their outfield.
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Where Will Kyle Tucker Play on the Dodgers?
Tucker, 28, has spent the entirety of his MLB career in the outfield. He split time across each of the outfield positions through his first handful of seasons in the league, but has functioned exclusively as a right fielder since 2022 — the first year he made the All-Star Game. He has also filled in as a designated hitter occasionally, but L.A. doesn’t presently have a need for a designated hitter with reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani manning the spot.
With that in mind, it’s unlikely the Dodgers will force him to change positions, especially since he has functioned as a league-average or better glove since the beginning of his career.
L.A.’s most likely plan of action is moving Hernandez back to left field, where he spent most of the 2024 season, and allowing Tucker to play in his favored right field.
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Where Will Kyle Tucker Hit in the Lineup?
While placing Tucker somewhere in the Dodgers’ lineup is completely speculative, it’s safe to assume he’ll be towards the top of the lineup card night in and night out.
The Dodgers were fairly consistent with the top of the lineup last season, usually utilizing Shohei Ohtani as a leadoff man followed by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and that may not change, even with Tucker’s addition.
After them, however, Tucker could absolutely fill in as the cleanup man, looking to capitalize on baserunners early in the game.
Tucker had some of his best numbers in 2025 in the first and second innings last year, posting a .926 OPS with six homers in the first inning and a .968 OPS with a .318 average in the second inning. If the Dodgers want to capitalize on the All-Star bat they brought in, getting him as many at-bats as possible is paramount.
The Dodgers took a huge step forward towards their goal of a three-peat in 2026 by adding Tucker, and if the slugger can produce for the Dodgers as he has over the past four years, they’ll definitely be the favorites in the upcoming season.
Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
