Is top free agent Kyle Tucker to the Toronto Blue Jays a fait accompli? We know he made the trip to Dunedin to visit the Toronto Blue Jays’ impressive spring training complex. And we have heard for weeks now that the American League champions are the frontrunners to sign him. Now, two insiders and former MLB GMs have noted one major advantage the Jays have on the competition to sign Tucker… But they must be careful.
Jim Bowden said on MLB Network on Wednesday morning that no other team is looking to give Tucker what he wants in terms of contract length. Six years? Seven years? Eight? Is the soon-to-be 29-year-old in line for a deal of that length?
He might not get that. Unless the Toronto Blue Jays give it to him. Because it doesn’t sound like the Yankees are, and the Dodgers are NOT. So… unless there’s some team that I’m not aware of, like the Mets, that are in on it, the only chance that Tucker has of getting that deal is the Toronto Blue Jays.
But that begs the question: Will Jays GM Ross Atkins wind up bidding against himself? Will he allow that to happen? Toronto has been known to overpay to get free agents in the past. It’s often part of the equation for the team that resides in Canada, and in a highly-taxed location.
Bowden’s colleague, and another former general manager, Steve Phillips, echoed those sentiments as well:
“If I’m the Blue Jays, and the Dodgers aren’t going to give him a long-term deal, and the Yankees are not going to give him a long-term deal, and I’m the only one there, then I’m not going to give him a long-term deal. I’m going to go to the lowest threshold I can to get him to say ‘yes.’ Why would I give him seven or eight years?”
That’s where the danger comes in. The Jays’ brass is overly giddy right now, coming off their thrilling World Series showing. They have to guard against going overboard, and to places they simply don’t have to go to.
Are Bo Bichette’s day numbered as the focus remains Tucker?
Of course, there’s one other thing they need to be careful of at this point. If their own free agent Bo Bichette sees that Tucker has become priority No. 1 for them, he might just head them off at the pass and sign with another team before the Jays have a chance to react.
Atkins gave his usual word salad answer today when asked about Bichette and whether he can play shortstop on the 2026 Blue Jays. “We have several guys that can play shortstop,” and, “He can play the position. He is.. uh.. an incredible player that would make any team better.”
Even though he didn’t say anything of any substance, that alone spoke volumes.
