USA Today writer envisions dominant $167.77 million Dodgers outfield in 2026 after major free agent signing

USA Today writer envisions dominant $167.77 million Dodgers outfield in 2026 after major free agent signing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may not have to be the story of the offseason again following their second straight World Series win this past November. While LAD loves to spend, the simple move might be the best move this winter.

USA Today’s Gabe Lacques believes the Dodgers should still spend, but instead of going all-in on the priciest option on the market, Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, who’s expected to make around $400 million on his next deal, LA should spend on a reunion with New York Yankees outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger instead.

Lacques noted that it’d still cost the Dodgers a pretty penny, but that it’d be manageable compared to the alternative.

“Bellinger, who will surely want a nine-figure deal that seemed inevitable a half-decade ago, will come for a fraction of the cost. And he’s probably a better fit: Bellinger can play all three outfield positions as well as first base, a crucial bit of optionality as Teoscar Hernández and Freddie Freeman hit free agency after 2027 and 30-plus stars like Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani may need to shift roles,” Lacques wrote.

“Fewer outfielders are better defensively: Bellinger’s seven outs above average in 2025 put him even with the defensively elite Harrison Bader and just one behind Gold Glove winner Fernando Tatis Jr. If so inclined, the Dodgers could enjoy Bellinger’s enhanced production compared to what Conforto provided, and eat the offensive shortcomings of Andy Pages while keeping his 11 outs above average in center, creating a truly dominant defensive outfield.

“Yep, L.A. Belli v.2.0 would be a pretty nice fit.”

Whatever happens, LAD is preparing to replace great players with other great players. That’s business at the top of the MLB pyramid, something the New York Yankees and New York Mets experience. The Cubs are about to have to do that with Tucker.

Whether Los Angeles spends big or really big is the prevalent question in the Chavez Ravine this offseason.