Latest Dodgers Rumors on Free-Agency Plans for Tucker, Bellinger, Diaz, Bader, Suarez

The two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers might be on track for a relatively quiet free agency in 2026.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday, ahead of the start of MLB's annual Winter Meetings in Orlando, that the Dodgers "won't be involved in the bidding war for any of the biggest stars" this offseason.

According to Nightengale, the Dodgers will "dip their toes in the water" for Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger or Edwin Díaz but "would prefer" less expensive targets like Harrison Bader or Robert Suarez.

Former MLB general manager and The Athletic writer Jim Bowden recently projected Tucker's value at $427 million over 10 years, Bellinger's as $168 million over five years and Díaz's as a five-year deal worth up to $100 million.

Bader and Suárez would likely cost significantly less. Bader is projected by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel to receive a two-year, $25 million deal, while Bowden projected Suarez will receive a five-year, $80 million deal.

Those acquisitions would also allow the Dodgers to address two positions of need. Los Angeles will need another closer like Suarez given plans to move Roki Sasaki into the 2026 rotation. Bringing in Bader could potentially help the club address what was a relatively weak outfield defense last season.

The Dodgers would only consider signing a top-of-the-market free agent if they trade outfielder Tesocar Hernández, according to Nightengale.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney recently reported Hernández has been "coming up in trade conversations," but "the Dodgers view a deal as unlikely."

Nightengale's report indicates the Dodgers, who spent the last two offseasons bolstering a star-studded rotation by bringing in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, could be out on Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai.

Imai is projected by Bowden to ink a seven-year, $154 million contract upon his arrival in MLB, and whichever club signs him will also need to pay a posting fee to Japan's NPB.