Eye-opening development in Toronto Blue Jays negotiations with Kyle Tucker
The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to Kyle Tucker all off season but it looks like things are finally starting to pick up as a deal could close soon.
On Tuesday, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon added another nudge, saying Toronto's push on Tucker has picked up compared to earlier weeks. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand has also had Toronto pegged as the favorite in league circles.
League sources says the Jays have increased their efforts to recruit Tucker
- Mitch Bannon
- Mitch Bannon
Tucker is the cleanest fit on the field, because he's a middle-order lefty who plays a real right field. He was the No. 5 overall pick in 2015, and he turns 29 on Jan. 17.
The 2025 production plays, even if it wasn't his loudest career year. MLB.com lists 22 homers, 73 RBIs, 25 steals, and an .841 OPS, and StatMuse matches those totals across 136 games.
That kind of player changes how pitchers attack the Jays in the late innings. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. already drawing traffic, Tucker forces mistakes over the plate instead of nibbling.
Toronto's recent Kazuma Okamoto deal matters here, because it shows they're willing to shop at the top shelf again. It also makes the «one more impact bat» argument feel less like fan fiction.
Bichette is the emotional pivot, because he's homegrown and still in his prime at 27. Reuters reported the Jays extended him a $22.025 million qualifying offer, and he just posted 181 hits with a .311 average and 44 doubles in 2025.
Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette shape Toronto Blue Jays
Here's the fan truth, people want a headline move, but they don't want to lose the guy they already own jerseys for. That tension is why Bannon's «stronger push» phrasing lands with a thud.
If Tucker is the add, the next question is what Toronto believes about Bichette's long-term defensive home. His bat is still a lineup anchor, but roster design gets messy fast.
Mitch Bannon provides an update on the Blue Jays pursuits of Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette
A Tucker signing would also give John Schneider more options at the top of the order. Twenty-five steals isn't just a nice bonus, it changes how opponents defend late.
This market has also felt like a stare-down, with clubs waiting for the first domino to fall. That's why the Feinsand «favorite» note keeps getting recycled, it's one of the few concrete breadcrumbs.
If Bichette walks, the qualifying-offer compensation helps, but it doesn't replace a .311 hitter. If Bichette stays, the Jays can still justify Tucker as the finishing piece, not a replacement.
Either way, the next milestone is simple: get it done before camp turns rumors into awkward daily questions.
Source: The Athletic
Where the Blue Jays stand with Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker
Where the Blue Jays stand with Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 7 | 524 ANSWERS Eye-opening development in Toronto Blue Jays negotiations with Kyle Tucker Should the Toronto Blue Jays prioritize Kyle Tucker over Bo Bichette? | ||
| Kyle Tucker | 226 | 43.1 % |
| Bo Bichette | 142 | 27.1 % |
| Both | 133 | 25.4 % |
| Neither | 23 | 4.4 % |
| List of polls | ||