SF Giants only have one path to the playoffs after Dodgers consolidate power

After the Dodgers added Kyle Tucker last week on a four-year, $240 million contract, it feels like Los Angeles is once again on an inevitable path to victory in the NL West.

The Dodgers have been the juggernauts in the division for a decade-and-a-half, outside of 2021 when the Giants pulled off a magical season to win the west. Other than that, it's been all Los Angeles, and it feels like that will not be changing in 2026. If anything, the back-to-back world champions got better, not worse, this offseason.

That might feel like bad news for the Giants, and it probably is. There's not an easy way to spin it; missing out on Tucker is bad, but letting him go to the Dodgers is even worse. Is there any way this will benefit the Giants?

SF Giants now have a clear path after Kyle Tucker signs with Dodgers

There is at least a silver lining here. Even though the Dodgers feel like the team of destiny in 2026, the Giants still have a path to the playoffs. It might not be as direct a path as winning their division, but the NL Wild Card chase will likely be up for grabs again next year. Outside of the Dodgers, Cubs, and Phillies, the rest of the NL has been mostly stagnant this offseason.

That sets up an exciting Wild Card race that will include division rivals like the Padres and Diamondbacks, as well as teams like the Brewers, Mets, Braves, and the pesky Reds, who snuck in over the Giants last year.

Can the Giants beat out four of those six teams, to claim one of the three NL Wild Card spots? In theory, the answer should be yes. The Giants have the talent to do it, and one of these years, they are going to get better luck when it comes to keeping players healthy.

While it obviously is a bummer to see the Dodgers sign yet another superstar, this is not the end of the Giants' season. San Francisco can still make plenty of noise in 2026.