The Toronto Blue Jays head into what looks like it will be a long and cold winter after their heartbreaking defeat in Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For as much as the loss stung, it should give the front office and ownership group that much more motivation to build a roster for next year that can get it done. The American League is still wide open for the taking, and the Blue Jays should be right in the conversation again in 2026.
This franchise has been linked over and over again to the very top free agents throughout the years. And for the most part, they have not landed them. That’s the case once again for Toronto, as baseball insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today has shockingly connected them to Kyle Tucker.
“Tucker, a native of Tampa, will sign with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or Los Dodgers, GMs predict,” Nightengale wrote. “Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays are the perfect fit.”
Though much of the noise surrounding the Blue Jays this offseason is going to be regarding their quest to keep Bo Bichette in the fold, perhaps adding Tucker to the lineup alongside their homegrown star is exactly what they need to do in order to get to the next level.
The fit here is a bit complicated given the kind of seasons — and more importantly the postseasons — Addison Barger and Ernie Clement each just had. But there has to be a way to make this work. Tucker is not only an elite bat, he’s a Gold Glove-quality corner outfielder who can steal 30 bags, as well.
With a slash line over the last three years of .278/.380/.511 and an absurd bWAR of 14.8 in just 371 games played, Tucker’s value to whatever team he winds up joining cannot be understated. The 28-year-old just took a Chicago Cubs team that had not made a real playoff run in a decade to the brink of the NLCS, and he’s only now entering his prime.
Toronto has proven to not be afraid of spending money, so if they can shuffle around the pieces to fit Tucker in seamlessly to this roster and starting lineup, then making this move is a no-brainer for the front office.
After a run to Game 7 of the World Series, the Blue Jays are a more attractive free agent destination than ever and have their best chance yet to land a big name free agent. Time will tell if Tucker ends up being that splash move fans have now craved for so long.
Leave a Reply