Toronto Blue Jays fate with Cody Bellinger has been confirmed

Jim Bowden said on Monday that Toronto is not in on Bellinger right now, and the real fight is between the New York Yankees and New York Mets.

Bowden also suggested the Mets already made their «panic pivot» after missing Tucker, while the Yankees are essentially staring at Bellinger as the big remaining domino.

That leaves the Jays watching another market move from the curb.

On Tuesday, Mitch Bannon's angle was simpler, Toronto could obviously use a lefty upgrade in left field, but there has not been much noise connecting the Jays to Bellinger, and it is hard to see them outbidding New York.

The Blue Jays have been linked to Bellinger lately but there has been no confirmation of a real deal at play.

As a fan, it feels like every headline ends with Toronto being «close,» and that gets old fast.

From a pure player lens, I understand why Bellinger keeps pulling teams in. He hit .272 with 29 homers in 2025, and he brings real versatility across the outfield and first base.

He also turns 31 this summer, born July 13, 1995, which is exactly why the contract length matters more than the player. If the Yankees truly sit in that five-year neighborhood, Toronto has to decide whether it wants ages 30 through 34, or a shorter, sharper bet.

This is where the «why not Toronto» question gets interesting. The Jays just came off a season where they needed one more reliable left-handed threat to keep lineups from leaning right, and Bellinger fits the cleanest on paper.

But fit is not the same as value. If Toronto believes Bellinger's best years are already in the rearview, then sitting out is actually the disciplined move, even if it is unpopular.

My take is that the Jays can survive skipping him, but only if the next bat they add is a real difference maker, not a shrug. The next milestone is Bellinger choosing his team, because Toronto's Plan B has to be ready the same day.