The Toronto Blue Jays have already made one big splash, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract after coming off their American League Pennant. Nonetheless, could another major signing be on the way?
On December 3, The Athletic reported, citing a league source, that free-agent hitter Kyle Tucker toured the Blue Jays’ player development complex in Dunedin, Fla.
As a corner outfielder, Tucker offers a blend of speed, power, and reliable contact. With a career OPS of .865, he has topped 20 homers and reached double figures in steals in each of the past five seasons.
“What’s interesting about this is that prior to last night, the Jays’ interest in Kyle Tucker was rumored, but it was never really confirmed or even seemed to be something that the club was prioritizing,” Rosenthal said on the December 4 edition of “Fair Territory.” “We know that they signed the two starting pitchers, Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce.
“We didn’t know exactly what they were doing on the position side, but they had interest, perhaps in Tucker and certainly in resigning Bo Bichette. So this is a clear indication of their interest. Whether it indicates they’re going to sign Tucker remains to be seen.
“And let’s not get carried away with that idea. You remember Shohei Ohtani, a couple of years ago, visiting the Jays Training Complex in Dunedin, didn’t sign. This is a normal thing for players to do. And Kyle Tucker does live in Tampa, which is a short drive from Dunedin. So really for him, hop, skip, and a jump, no big deal to go there. But at the same time, I don’t want to underplay this.”
Blue Jays Send a Message to Bo Bichette
Whether Toronto signs Tucker remains to be seen, but Rosenthal stated that the reported meeting with the all-star outfielder is a message to the Blue Jays‘ homegrown product and free-agent hitter, Bo Bichette.
“The Jays are acting like behemoths in this market, and this meeting with Tucker that took place last night or yesterday, whenever exactly it was, is an indication that they are thinking big,” Rosenthal added.
“It also might be a message to Bo Bichette: ‘Hey, come down a little bit in your price.’ There are all kinds of possibilities here. Fact of the matter is, he was in Dunedin at their complex, and that is news.”
Blue Jays Will Need to Shell Out Significant Money
Despite this visit from Tucker, the sticking point is money. Toronto already pushed out two of the biggest contracts of the offseason, and signing Tucker would take an even heavier financial leap.
Tucker’s bat would be a welcome addition to the Blue Jays’ lineup, considering he’s a four-time All-Star with two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. A move pushes Toronto even higher atop the teams that are the favorites to win the AL in 2026.
Moreover, while any team would welcome Tucker, he fills a real need for Toronto because of his left-handed bat. Last season, the Jays tried a few left-handed options in front of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., giving turns to Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger.
