The Dodgers are taking a patient approach with James Tibbs III, and there’s a clear reason why.
Rather than rush him onto the 40-man roster, Los Angeles is keeping the young hitter in position to keep developing with the organization before the MLB lockout changes the equation. That decision is tied directly to how the club wants to handle his next step, and it gives the Dodgers a little more flexibility with one of their most intriguing prospects.
Tibbs’ path to Los Angeles has already been a winding one. He came over from the Dodgers in the Dustin May trade at the 2025 deadline, after first struggling in the minors with the San Francisco Giants.
He had also been part of the package for Rafael Devers, and then later got flipped for May in the same season. The former first-round pick in the 2024 Draft entered pro ball with plenty of attention, but the results didn’t come right away.
That changed once he got into the Dodgers’ system. Tibbs put together a huge minor league season in 2026, hitting .287/.409/.532 with a .941 OPS, plus 30 home runs and 107 RBIs. It was the kind of production that makes people start looking at him differently, and it has only added to the sense that the Dodgers may have landed another strong value move from Andrew Friedman.
On Wednesday, Nov. 4th, The Athletic’s Katie Woo addressed Tibbs during an Ask Me Anything on Reddit, saying he could be a name to watch for a possible big-league look next season. Woo explained the roster logic this way:
“I’ve heard that’s because they did not want to add him to the 40-man roster before it was required (he does not need to be protected until next offseason). One of the main reasons why: Teams cannot work with any player on their 40-man roster once the CBA expires,” Woo wrote on Reddit.
“Keeping Tibbs off it allows him to continue working with Dodger staff and at the team facility, which will be imperative in making sure he’s big-league ready come 2027.”
The appeal is obvious. Tibbs has played first base, designated hitter, right field, and left field, so the Dodgers have moved him around plenty.
He isn’t viewed as a standout defender at any one spot, but the bat is the carrying tool. In the minors, it has been one of the best around.
For a Dodgers roster that could use more young bats with real upside, Tibbs offers exactly that kind of punch. If the time with the team’s coaches and staff during the lockout helps him sharpen the defense, he could become a real lineup upgrade without the Dodgers having to spend money or give up anyone else.
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