The Dodgers just pulled off another stunner in an offseason that’s been quiet by their standards-but loud where it matters. Kyle Tucker is heading to Los Angeles, and while the baseball world spent the last few days zeroing in on New York and Toronto, LA was working behind the scenes, waiting for the right moment to strike. And when they did, they made it count-upping their offer by $20 million to leapfrog the Mets and land one of the top bats on the market.
Let’s rewind for a second. Heading into the final stretch of Tucker’s free agency, the buzz was all about the Mets and Blue Jays.
The Mets were dangling a short-term deal with a massive $50 million average annual value. The Blue Jays were reportedly willing to go long-term.
Fans from both cities were locked in a social media battle, trading takes, memes, and cautious optimism. Meanwhile, Dodgers fans?
They were playing it cool. If they got him, great.
If not, no panic.
Well, they got him.
This marks just the fourth major signing for the Dodgers this offseason-but when two of those are the top free agent position player (Tucker) and the top free agent reliever (Edwin Díaz), you don’t need quantity to make a statement. This is a team that’s been selective, but surgical. And now, they’ve added two high-impact pieces to a roster that was already loaded.
Of course, there’s a cost. Both Tucker and Díaz declined qualifying offers-Tucker from the Cubs, Díaz from the Mets-so by signing them, the Dodgers will forfeit four draft picks in 2026: their second, third, fifth, and sixth highest selections.
That’s not a small sacrifice. That’s a big chunk of draft capital for any organization.
But here’s the thing: the Dodgers have never been overly reliant on top-of-the-board draft picks to keep the pipeline flowing. They haven’t had a top-15 pick since 2008.
No top-20 pick since 2013. They didn’t even make a first-round selection in 2022.
And yet, here we are in 2026, and they still boast the No. 1 farm system in baseball.
That’s not luck. That’s a front office that’s built a scouting and development machine.
They find value where others might not. They take calculated risks on players who might be overlooked, sign them to overslot deals when necessary, and then develop them into legitimate prospects.
It’s a system that doesn’t just survive-it thrives, even when draft position says it shouldn’t.
And when the homegrown talent doesn’t quite fill a need? The Dodgers have the financial muscle to go out and get guys like Tucker and Díaz.
That’s the luxury of being backed by Guggenheim’s deep pockets. It’s not just about spending big-it’s about knowing when and how to spend big.
And right now, the Dodgers are playing that game better than anyone.
There’s a downside to this strategy, of course. LA’s farm system is so stacked that some top prospects don’t have a clear path to the majors.
That’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem. Roster crunches can lead to stalled development or trade chips losing value.
But if you’re the Dodgers, you’ll take that issue every day of the week if it means you’re consistently in the mix for elite talent.
So yes, the Dodgers are losing four draft picks. But they’re also adding a premier left-handed bat in Tucker and a shutdown closer in Díaz.
And they’re doing it without blinking-because this is what the Dodgers do. They scout better.
They develop better. And when the moment’s right, they spend better.
The rest of the league? They’re on notice. Again.