We know the Dodgers are in the market for an outfielder. Whether it be Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger or literally anyone else, the Dodgers need outfield help.
What if they didn’t need an outfielder?
The only way that is even feasible is to this dumb blogger is if they acquire an impact bat at another position. Enter Bo Bichette.
Bichette, 28 in March, is coming off a strong 2025 campaign that saw him hit .311/.357/.483 with a full-season career-best 134 wRC+. A sprained knee ligament caused him to miss the final few weeks of the regular season and the entirety of the American League Division and Championship Series’, but we all know he returned for the World Series.
Bichette had played exclusive shortstop at the MLB level before the World Series saw him shift to second base. He acquitted himself quite well at the keystone.
Bo Bichette’s first game at 2B and he’s already better than Jazz ??? pic.twitter.com/ax3mfKpnSY
— KutterIsKing (@KutterIsKing) October 25, 2025
As a shortstop, Bichette was well below-average, posting a -12 defensive runs saved and -13 outs above average. While teams tend to pay shortstops more, a move to second base might be best for him — and he’s apparently willing to do so.
That’s where the Dodgers come in. With Mookie Betts playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop, there’s no way he’s moving off the position. With second base looking good-not-great, perhaps the Dodgers make a play for Bichette.
His value comes with his bat, though. His Statcast profile is littered with red and lighter shades of red (almost pink, even).
He’s not much of a threat with his speed anymore, but he’s not going to get a nine-figure deal for his speed. Bichette is Top 30 in MLB in Contact% (83.1) and nearly Top 20 in Z-Contact% (91.2). Both his contact rate and zone contact rate would have been 4th-best on the Dodgers last season, behind Betts, Edman and Miguel Rojas. The big difference there is none of those guys (currently) have Bichette’s pop (.172 ISO, .483 SLG), so he would bring a different type of contact-pop combination than a guy like, say, Steven Kwan. He does chase more than the likes of Betts and Edman, but Bichette’s 14.5% strikeout rate is hardly prohibitive for a guy who can hit the ball with authority.
Short-term, a Bichette signing wouldn’t bode well for Alex Freeland or Hyeseong Kim‘s playing time. Freeland can play all three non-first base positions, but his bat is still in question. Kim is limited to second base and shortstop, with his bat also being in question. If he could get more comfortable in center field, he could be Tommy Edman, v 2.0 (with less hit), but we’re a ways off from that. Speaking of Edman, his versatility would allow him to play center field most days, while giving Bichette some days off at second. Andy Pages would spend most of his time in a corner outfield spot — preferably right field — with left field set to be manned by Teoscar Hernandez or a platoon of Alex Call and Ryan Ward. Hernandez, the subject of trade rumors, is still in tow. However, the rumors appear to be more than just idle chatter, so there’s a real chance he isn’t with the Dodgers next season. For the record, I’d be against that, but also wouldn’t be surprised if a trade happened. It’s also good news for a potential Alex Call-Ryan Ward platoon in left field.
Long-term, perhaps a move to third base when Max Muncy is no longer viable or with the club could be in order. Bichette’s arm is slightly below-average for third base, but it’s no worse than Muncy’s. This would also open up second base for someone else — Kellon Lindsey, Emil Morales, Joendry Vargas — or Bichette stays at second base and someone like Chase Harlan becomes the heir apparent.
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The financial commitment would be significant. Using The Athletic, ESPN, FanGraphs and MLB Trade Rumors, the average projected term and salary for Bichette is seven years and $188.25 million — $26.9 million average annual value. Any contract would include deferments, as the Dodgers have made en vouge. At this point of the offseason, that kind of contract might not be on the table for Bichette, so perhaps fewer years and dollars could be in play. If so, the Dodgers are no strangers to wanting to do fewer years with more money per year to entice players to sign. Perhaps something like five years at $150 million could get Bichette to sign.
After signing Edwin Diaz, the Dodgers had to give up their second- and fifth-highest draft picks, as well as $1 million in international signing bonus money because Diaz was given the qualifying offer by the Mets. If they signed Bichette, they’d have to give up their third- and sixth-highest draft picks. So, signing Bichette would cost two more draft picks, but no more international money. When looking at the Dodgers’ current top prospects, we can see the impact international signings have had. Among the majors outlets, only Freeland ranks in the Top 10 among players the Dodgers drafted. Perhaps forfeiting two mid-round draft picks to help supplement the roster for another championship run can work, considering how adept the Dodgers are at finding talent in the international market.
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The Dodgers are definitely on the hunt for another bat, and it seems they’re looking for one who’s a little different than the guys they have in their lineup currently. Bellinger, Brendan Donovan, Kwan, Lars Nootbaar are all guys who have been connected to the Dodgers in some capacity this offseason. They are more bat-to-ball focused hitters. Bichette falls into that category, so if they had interest in him, it’d make sense.
It’d be another big swing by this front office, but the core of this team is only getting older. Taking advantage of having this much top-end talent is something the Dodgers need to do (and have). Landing another quality hitter like Bichette would make sense, regardless of the contract and draft pick cost.
Acquire talent, figure out the rest later. Bichette may be the most talented hitter on the market, and I’d feel better about the Dodgers bringing him in over someone like Tucker.
