Free agent slugger Kyle Tucker was reportedly “spotted at the Toronto Blue Jays’ facility in Dunedin, Florida on Wednesday,” according to Robert Murray of Fansided, and the Jays are “doing their due diligence” on the star outfielder.
Mitch Bannon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic confirmed the visit, noting that “talk of Toronto signing Tucker, a 28-year-old outfielder projected to sign for over $450 million by The Athletic’s Tim Britton, has not been overwhelmingly loud within the Blue Jays’ organization. But bringing Tucker to Dunedin may signal real interest in another major free-agent addition.”
They added that the Blue Jays “view the new labs, fresh fields and massive workout facility in Dunedin—all part of a $100 million rebuild completed in 2020—as a clear lure for free agents.”
The Blue Jays have already been very active in free agency, signing star pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract and rotation option Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal.
Just how serious Toronto’s potential pursuit is for Tucker remains to be seen. It’s hard to imagine them signing both Tucker and retaining infielder Bo Bichette after the splashy move for Cease, though it’s clear the defending American League champions aren’t about to rest on their laurels.
Tucker is widely considered the top free agent available this winter. The four-time All-Star and one-time champion hit .266 in 2025 with 22 homers, 73 RBI, 91 runs, 25 stolen bases and a .841 OPS across 136 games, helping the Chicago Cubs reach the playoffs. It was his fifth straight season with 20 or more home runs, though by his own lofty standards it was slightly a down year.
If the Tucker sweepstakes gets too rich for Toronto’s blood or if he prefers a different destination, retaining Bichette would be a fine consolation prize. The 27-year-old hit .311 with 18 homers, 94 RBI, 78 runs and a .840 OPS and was excellent in the playoffs (.348 BA, one homer, six RBI, .785 OPS), making the transition to second base.
The nightmare scenario for most Blue Jays fans would be missing out on both Tucker and Bichette. The addition of Cease would soothe that disappointment somewhat, but losing Bichette without replacing his impact in the lineup would not be ideal.