Following a report that the Toronto Blue Jays and Kyle Tucker met at the team’s Florida complex, a new rumor suggests a deal could be imminent.
Over the last few offseasons, the Blue Jays attempted to land one of the biggest fish in MLB free agency. Three years ago, they tried to lure future Hall of Famer Freddie Freeman north of the border. Two years ago, they nearly landed reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani. And last year, they were one of the top contenders for superstar outfielder Juan Soto.
Things haven’t changed this year, and they are again a major player in the chase for 2025’s top free agent, Kyle Tucker. In a show of progress in contract talks, it was reported earlier this week that the four-time All-Star met with Jays officials in Florida for in-person conversations. Yet, as Toronto fans are well aware, conversations mean nothing until pen is put to paper for a deal.
However, a new report opens the door to an agreement getting done soon, and for an intriguing reason. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, “it might behoove him to move quickly if he gets an early, aggressive bid from the Jays.”
Big Market Teams Taking a Cautious Approach This Winter?
The reason why the star outfielder shouldn’t play too much hardball during contract talks is a belief around the game that “this is not a winter in which you want to be waiting for the big offers to materialize.” The MLB insider claims that “a lot of the teams that are traditionally aggressive might be more conservative this winter, perhaps because of the looming labor situation” after the 2026 season.
That means teams like the New York Mets and Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs probably won’t be involved in the chase for Tucker, and if they are, they will probably have a hard stance on a specific contract number.
So if his team gets an offer close to what they want from the Blue Jays, they may jump on it because waiting could cost their client tens of millions.
