The Toronto Blue Jays have been the early winners of the MLB offseason, and they are not finished yet. Although they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series, the club is determined to build on its success in 2025 by adding proven talent to the roster.
On the pitching side, the Blue Jays made a major splash by signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal to anchor the front of their rotation. They also bolstered the back end with high-upside options, retaining Shane Bieber and bringing in Cody Ponce from the Korean Baseball Organization.
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Still, the work is far from complete. Toronto is actively exploring the possibility of re-signing longtime infielder Bo Bichette to a new deal, while also positioning itself as a clear suitor for the top free agent on the market, outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
As for their pursuit of Tucker, the Blue Jays may now face one less competitor in their AL East rivals, the New York Yankees.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appeared on MLB Network ahead of the winter meetings and discussed how the team plans to address its lineup. The Yankees had been viewed as Toronto’s biggest threat to sign Tucker, but Cashman offered a discouraging update.
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“Kyle Tucker has not visited the Yankees’ complex, Brian Cashman said. Tucker, who lives near Tampa, recently saw the Blue Jays’ facility in Dunedin,” reported Bryan Hoch of MLB.com on X.
He also pointed out that the Yankees lineup is already too left-handed, which could complicate their pursuit of Tucker, a left-handed hitter.
“We are too left-handed right now, without a doubt,” Cashman added.
For the Blue Jays, Cashman’s comments are nothing but encouraging. With the Yankees seemingly cooling on Tucker due to their left-handed heavy lineup, Toronto’s path to landing the star outfielder has become far less crowded.
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The Yankees had been viewed as the biggest obstacle in the Blue Jays’ pursuit, but their reluctance to push aggressively for Tucker leaves Toronto in prime position to make a compelling offer.
If the Blue Jays are able to land Tucker, it would be a massive addition given his incredible success across eight MLB seasons. He is a proven playoff performer, having gone on several deep runs during his tenure with the Houston Astros and winning a World Series title in 2022. He has collected plenty of individual accolades, including four All-Star selections, a Gold Glove and two Silver Slugger Awards.
The 28-year-old is coming off a strong season with the Chicago Cubs, where he posted a .266 batting average, a .377 on-base percentage, an .841 OPS, 22 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
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Adding Tucker’s combination of power, speed and postseason pedigree could provide the final piece Toronto needs to push the Blue Jays over the top in their pursuit of a championship.
Related: Blue Jays Announce Franchise First in Team History
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.