The Toronto Blue Jays are not expected to sign Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker if the opportunity presents itself to land both players, MLB Network’s Mark Feinsand reported Tuesday.
Tucker, a four-time All-Star who spent last season with the Chicago Cubs, reportedly visited the Blue Jays’ training facility in Dunedin, Fla., before the Winter Meetings. Toronto signed former San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract earlier this month.
Feinsand added that if the Blue Jays do not sign Tucker, they could revisit a reunion with Bichette, who has been with the organization since 2016. However, Feinsand also suggested that the Boston Red Sox could pursue Bichette if third baseman Alex Bregman, who opted out of his contract after the World Series, signs elsewhere.
“That’s why these dominoes are all sort of interlocking,” Feinsand said, “and they all play off each other.”
What to Know About Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker
Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and an .841 OPS in nearly 600 plate appearances for the Cubs. He is a two-time Silver Slugger and earned Gold Glove honors following the 2022 season.
It is unclear whether Tucker would remain in right field or potentially move to left field, where he began his Astros career, if he signed with the Blue Jays. George Springer spent significant time at designated hitter after offseason acquisition Anthony Santander suffered a shoulder injury in May. Santander signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with a 2030 team option last offseason, which would make it difficult for Toronto to have him come off the bench in the near future.
A back injury forced the Blue Jays to remove Santander from their postseason roster during the ALCS. He is expected to be a full go when spring training begins in February.
As for Bichette, the two-time All-Star returned to form following a frustrating 2024 season. He hit .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, 44 doubles, and a .840 OPS in 139 games before missing the end of the regular season with a knee injury. He returned in the World Series and batted .346 with one home run and six RBIs over 27 plate appearances, though he primarily played second base or served as the designated hitter.
There is no indication that either Tucker or Bichette intends to sign anytime soon. Those two, along with Bregman and New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, are the top free-agent hitters available. Longtime New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles last week, and All-Star designated hitter Kyle Schwarber re-upped with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal.