While the Los Angeles Dodgers should be in the market for an outfield bat this winter, they may not end up as the high bidder for top free agent Kyle Tucker.
It would seem to be an obvious fit with baseball’s new Evil Empire having bottomless pockets and Tucker expected to command a $400 million contract, but the Dodgers might prefer to focus on shoring up the bullpen.
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Los Angeles became the first team in a quarter-century to repeat as World Series champion with manager Dave Roberts installing rookie Rōki Sasaki as his closer during the playoff run. But general manager Brandon Gomes said last week that the plan is “absolutely” to have Sasaki rejoin the rotation in 2026.
The Dodgers spent big on the bullpen last winter, committing $72 million over four years to Tanner Scott but find themselves in the market again for a late-innings reliever. This year’s market is flush with proven closers including Edwin Diaz and Devin Williams, but are the Dodgers even looking for a dedicated ninth-inning man?
“I don’t think it’s a need, but it could be a ‘nice to have’ if that’s how it plays out,” Gomes said at MLB’s GM meetings in Las Vegas.
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The Dodgers are expected to pursue free agent right-hander Pete Fairbanks, who racked up 75 seasons over the past three seasons before the Tampa Bay Rays made a surprise decision to decline his 2026 option.
Dodgers rumors surround the bullpen
The lefty Scott struggled in his first year with the Dodgers, posting a 4.74 ERA in 61 regular season games but missed the entire postseason. But Los Angeles is confident the 31-year-old will have a return to form next season after posting a 2.04 ERA in 146 games in 2023 and 2024.
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“I think we’ve seen it in the past with guys, there is reliever volatility. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this happen in the past with other great relievers,” Gomes said. “So our full belief is that Tanner is gonna come back and have a great year for us next year, and be right there in the mix to pitch at the back end of games.”
With Scott on the books for three more years, the Dodgers may prefer to stay out of the Diaz sweepstakes, which is expected to end in a four- or five-year deal worth about $100 million.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) and Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) celebrate during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) and Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) celebrate during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Magic Johnson wave to fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
A fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers with his dog after the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers players and coaches ride double-deck buses during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Magic Johnson waves to Los Angeles Dodgers fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) and teammate Enrique Hernandez (8) celebrate during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers players wave to the crowd during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photo after the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers fans wait for the start of the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) wave to fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers fans react during the team’s victory parade after winning the World Series.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
A fan looks on before the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Celebration at Dodger Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) wave to fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers players hold the baseball World Series trophy as they greet fans from an open-top bus during the team’s victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on Nov. 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers players wave to fans from an open-top bus during the team’s victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on Nov. 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
A young fan runs with a Los Angeles Dodgers flag before the start of the Dodgers 2025 World Series Championship parade on Nov. 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Shohei Ohtani (L) and Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers acknowledge the crowd during the Dodgers 2025 World Series Championship parade on Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers players greet fans from an open-top bus during the team’s victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on November 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Fans watch as Los Angeles Dodgers players greet fans from an open-top bus during the team’s victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on Nov. 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers players wave to fans during the team’s victory parade in Los Angeles after winning the World Series on Nov. 3, 2025.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers fans react as the team bus passes them during the team’s victory parade in Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025, after winning the World Series.
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Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans
Los Angeles Dodgers fans wait for the start of the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers rumors and news surround Kyle Tucker, LA bullpen