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Jays get great news on pursuit of Kyle Tucker.
The Toronto Blue Jays have already made one splash this offseason by signing Dylan Cease and could soon make another.
Toronto made the first big move of the offseason by signing Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal. The Blue Jays are now focusing on bats, as Toronto could re-sign Bo Bichette, but the team is also interested in Kyle Tucker.
Even after signing Cease, MLB analyst Ryan Finkelstein of JustBaseball predicts the Blue Jays will sign Kyle Tucker to a 10-year $430 million deal.
“Imagine a decade of Kyle Tucker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting back-to-back in the Blue Jays lineup? That’s is the type of left-right combination that teams dream of having,” Finkelstein wrote. “Despite a few seasons where he has been hampered by injuries, Tucker is not going to have any problem signing a long-term deal. Especially since he hits the market ahead of his age-29 season.
“The Soto bidding war may not happen here for Tucker. So, clearing $50 million in AAV may be too steep an ask. But clearing $40 million per season should be well within reach. All it takes is a few teams who are motivated to make Tucker their absolute top priority this winter. And things can very quickly escalate to, and past, $400 million on a 10-year deal.”
Tucker would start in the outfield and replace Bichette’s bat in the lineup. It would be a bold move for the Blue Jays to sign him, but, with how close Toronto was to winning the World Series, the time is now for the team to go all-in.
Insider: Blue Jays Still in on Top Free Agent Hitters
Even after Toronto signed Cease to a massive $210 million deal, the Blue Jays are still expected to pursue the top free agents.
Blue Jays insider Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reported that Toronto is still very much in the running to sign Tucker or Bichette.
“Yes, because the Blue Jays have the financial flexibility to be “in” on whomever they want,” Matheson wrote. “While the Cease deal does lessen the already-unlikely odds of the Blue Jays landing both Tucker and Bichette, by no means does it eliminate them from the running to land a bat at the top of the market.”
Tucker would be a true impact bat for the Blue Jays and make Toronto’s offense that much more potent. The star hitter is a four-time MLB All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Tucker’s Free Agency Taking Surprising Turn
Tucker is the top free agent available, but his market could be hindered.
The star outfielder had a disappointing 2025 season due to injuries. Now, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today said teams don’t love Tucker.
“I think teams like him, but they don’t absolutely love him,” Nightengale said on Foul Territory on Nov. 26. “This is two straight years now, he’s had poor second halves with the injuries. The injuries seem like they take a long time. You know kinda slow recoveries here on these.”
Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs last season with the Chicago Cubs.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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