It sounds as though Kyle Tucker’s preference was to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays, even if things didn’t ultimately work out.

The Jays were considered the frontrunners to land the four-time All-Star free agent throughout the off-season, which made it all the more shocking when Tucker instead signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the LA Dodgers. 

It had been reported that the Blue Jays offered Tucker a ten-year, $350 million deal, but it apparently just wasn’t enough to convince the 29-year-old to sign north of the border. 

Though Tucker said at a press conference on Thursday that he signed with the Dodgers in hopes of winning a World Series, Whit Merrifield, a former member of the Blue Jays, said that the outfielder was hoping things would pan out in Toronto.

“I don’t know Kyle, but I know people in his camp really well,” Merrifield said on the 6ix Inning Stretch podcast. “When he signed, his agent texted me and was like, ‘Hey, Kyle really wanted to go to Toronto.’ The Jays offered him ten years for $350. They needed a little more, based on Kyle and his market and comparables. 

“Toronto just wasn’t willing to do more than $35 [million] a year. Everyone has a value for certain players. Toronto felt that his value 35 a year for 10 years, which is an incredible offer. The Dodgers came in and said ‘How about $60 a year?’. It’s hard to say no to that.”

Kyle Tucker really wanted to play for the Jays, but the money in LA was clearly too much to pass up. Whit shares some insider info on the negotiations between Tucker and Toronto.

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— 6ix Inning Stretch Podcast (@6ixinningpod) January 23, 2026

The contract the Dodgers worked out with Tucker has caused an uproar amongst MLB fans, and has many believing it could play a part in causing a lockout for the 2027 season. 

By failing to land Tucker, the Blue Jays have yet to add the big bat they were hoping to this offseason. Whether or not they are able to do that ahead of the 2026 season remains to be seen.

Lead photo by

Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images