{"id":112374,"date":"2026-01-16T21:33:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T02:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=112374"},"modified":"2026-01-16T21:33:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T02:33:57","slug":"do-the-dodgers-need-kyle-tucker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/16\/do-the-dodgers-need-kyle-tucker\/","title":{"rendered":"Do the Dodgers Need Kyle Tucker?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Dodgers finally have their right fielder. \u00a0They signed<\/a> free agent Kyle Tucker<\/a> to a four-year, $240 million deal. Well…it’s not quite official yet. They still have to make a roster move to make room for him. Yet, despite not being the frontrunner, they landed the best available option on the market. Tucker preferred Los Angeles over the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays, but do the Dodgers really need him? Yes, and here’s why.<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Believe It or Not, The Dodgers Need Kyle Tucker<\/h2>\n

Offensive Production<\/h3>\n

Los \u00c1ngeles needs more offensive production from their corner outfielders. Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> and Michael Conforto<\/a> were not exactly juggernauts at the plate in 2025. Conforto struggled<\/a> to a .200 batting average last year. You don’t expect the veteran to be Ted Williams<\/a> with the bat, but you did expect him to at least to hit between .230 and .240 with a little pop. It wasn’t even close to that level of production. To be fair, Hern\u00e1ndez wasn’t himself offensively either. It may have been due to injuries<\/a> or a down year. Whatever the case, Hern\u00e1ndez hit for an average in the .230 for most of the year, and it was a far cry from 2024. To add insult to injury, both players had a high strikeout rate.<\/p>\n

By contrast, prior to sustaining a hairline fracture in his hand, Tucker was hitting close to .290 with 40 home runs in a year of games. He also gives the lineup length depth and balance. If the new Dodger stays healthy, it is indeed an offensive upgrade.<\/p>\n

\n

Kyle Tucker from the start of 2024 through July 1, 2025 (around the time of his reported hairline fracture)<\/p>\n

162 games
\n40 HR
\n101 RBI
\n31 SB
\n.290 AVG
\n.400 OBP
\n.557 SLG
\n.957 OPS
\n167 wRC+
\n15.3 BB%\/14.9 K%
\n8.0 fWAR \u203c\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/IZqxMQl3w5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n