Blue Jays predicted to sign Phillies’ $20M reject, Silver Slugger winner after losing Kyle Tucker originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays got off to a strong start this offseason, but ultimately missed out on several remaining big-name targets. Their biggest miss came when Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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“Kyle Tucker, the consensus best player available in free agency, agreed to join the Dodgers on Thursday, sources told ESPN, a little more than a month after star closer Edwin Diaz did the same. Tucker’s deal is for four years at $240 million and includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote.

The Blue Jays can still make a late addition, and one name to watch is Nick Castellanos. FanSided’s Mark Powell believes Castellanos will sign with Toronto after being released on Thursday.

“Of those teams, I’d consider the Blue Jays favorites due to need alone. Toronto lost outfielder Anthony Santander to injury, as he’s expected to miss 5-6 months after undergoing shoulder surgery,” Powell wrote.

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While Castellanos isn’t the same type of player Tucker is, he would give Toronto a veteran option in right field. Castellanos was released by the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday and will still be owed the remainder of his contract from Philadelphia.

“The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game. The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is Monday,” ESPN wrote.

Castellanos would provide a powerful right-handed bat, though he won’t be as reliable defensively, as he is considered one of the weaker defenders in the game. Still, his offensive upside makes him an intriguing option for the Blue Jays.

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Toronto is looking to add a veteran presence, and Castellanos brings that along with World Series experience — exactly what the organization is hoping to recapture. A move like this could provide meaningful support to Toronto’s lineup.

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