Blue Jays predicted to beat out Dodgers for Bo Bichette and a $300 million free agent originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays often find themselves coming up just short in their free agent pursuits.

Advertisement

But after a trip to the World Series, Toronto could be living large this winter.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has predicted a double-whammy: He expects the Blue Jays to re-sign Bo Bichette, and he sees them as the possible front-runner for the top free agent on the market, Kyle Tucker.

“Tucker, a native of Tampa, will sign with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or Los Dodgers, GMs predict,” Nightengale writes. “The San Francisco Giants are a darkhorse, but considering they still owe Rafael Devers $250 million, are in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract with Willy Adames and the second of a six-year, $151 million extension with Matt Chapman, there’s only so many nine-figure contracts the Giants can seemingly afford. They are paying $137 million alone to their top six players next year: Devers, Chapman, Adames, Robbie Ray, Logan Webb and Jung Hoo Lee. And don’t forget they are paying a record $10.5 million in salaries for a manager in 2026 – $4 million to fired Bob Melvin, $3.5 million to new manager Tony Vitello and $3 million to Tennessee for Vitello’s buyout.

“Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays are the perfect fit.

“Bichette, who was expected to depart Toronto a year ago and whose name surfaced a year ago in trade talks now is expected to stay put to complete their goodwill tour.”

That would be quite the way to try and get back to the World Series and maybe win it this time.

MORE: The Dodgers have an $87 million free agency secret weapon

The Blue Jays shelled out $500 million in April to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long term. It might cost them a combined $500 million to keep Bichette and sign Tucker.

Advertisement

All of a sudden, the Toronto lineup would be even more fearsome.

Would the Blue Jays really pay that much?

They do get a nice windfall from postseason revenue, which helps. And they were willing to pay Shohei Ohtani $700 million before not landing him a couple offseasons ago.

If there was ever a time for Toronto to shell out more cash, it’s now.

MORE: Could Kyler Murray leave the NFL to come play baseball?