The Toronto Blue Jays remain linked to All-Star hitters Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. Although league sources said the Jays have increased their efforts to recruit Tucker, who remains a roster fit after the signing of Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto, a reunion with Bichette appears increasingly unlikely.
In addressing the team’s potential paths forward during Okamoto’s introductory press conference Tuesday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins reiterated that he feels good about the current roster after a $337 million spending spree. But even after acknowledging that any future moves would cut into playing time for current players, Atkins stopped short of explicitly ruling out more additions.
“If there’s an opportunity for us to think about improving the organization, we’re going to always lean into creative ways to do so,” Atkins said.
Throughout the 2025 season, Bichette consistently expressed his desire to stay in Toronto and play alongside his fellow franchise mainstay, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. While some in the Blue Jays organization remain advocates for signing the 27-year-old Bichette, the club’s infield as currently constructed appears crowded. It would be seemingly impossible to find regular reps for all of Bichette, Okamoto, Andrés Giménez and Ernie Clement.
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The Jays will likely stay in touch with Bichette’s representatives as free agency remains fluid and plans evolve. Perhaps if Bichette elects to take a shorter deal with opt-outs, similar to the contracts signed by Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and Cody Bellinger in recent offseasons, the Jays could make things work for a year. More likely, Toronto would have to make a significant trade, like moving Anthony Santander with four years left on his deal, to open room for Bichette.
Trading Santander could create more designated hitting appearances for Okamoto and Guerrero, clearing up playing time in the infield. But it’s no guarantee the Jays could even find a serious suitor for Santander coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Tucker, on the other hand, appears to be a much easier fit as an everyday right fielder. Toronto’s infield would remain untouched, with Addison Barger and Okamoto likely acting as a sort of third base platoon. Santander would move to left field and George Springer would log most of the time at DH. The odd man out, in that case, would be outfielder Nathan Lukes, though a Santander trade could also open room in this case, too. With key outfielders Daulton Varsho and Springer set for free agency next winter, the Jays have room for another outfield cornerstone.
It’s far from a guarantee that the Jays land Tucker. He will likely have suitors across the league and the Jays have already spent significant financial resources on four free-agent additions. But Toronto’s interest in the 28-year-old is clear.
The Jays, as reported in early December, invited Tucker to tour the franchise’s development complex in Florida. Players, including Guerrero and Myles Straw, have commented on Tucker’s social media posts all winter, too. But Toronto’s recent recruitment of Tucker, a league source said, has been more aggressive.
Ultimately, money will be the biggest part of Toronto’s pitch to the former Cubs and Astros outfielder. Currently, Toronto’s projected collective bargaining tax payroll sits above $304 million, according to Cot’s Baseball, easily the highest mark in franchise history. With the final CBT threshold set at $304 million, every dollar the Jays now add to payroll will be taxed at a 90 percent rate. The Jays have clearly been given ownership clearance to spend more than ever before, further investing after a $500 million extension to Guerrero earlier this year. Signing Tucker would raise the payroll even higher.
The Jays, though, have been willing to extend payroll for long-term deals before — showing interest in the type of free agents that require lengthy pitches to ownership and alter a franchise’s trajectory for years. Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto were obvious examples, but Tucker could fall into the same category. The nearly $80 million set to come off Toronto’s books next winter, due to expiring contracts of Kevin Gausman, Springer, Varsho and others, could make a high 2026 payroll palatable, too, especially coming off a World Series run.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal contributed reporting to this story