The Toronto Blue Jays lost the World Series in seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After being so close last season, the Blue Jays have some important decisions to make this offseason.
Bo Bichette headlines the list of Blue Jays players in free agency. He had a bounce-back season, hitting .311 with an .840 OPS and 18 home runs. Bichette is the best shortstop on the market, and losing him would be a huge blow to the Blue Jays. Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein predicted Bichette would sign with the Detroit Tigers, but the Blue Jays would make up for it by signing Kyle Tucker.
Tucker is seen as the best free agent available this offseason. Finkelstein projects him to sign a 10-year, $430 million deal this offseason. Obviously, Tucker would be a major investment for the Blue Jays, especially after giving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a $500 million deal earlier this year.
“Losing in that fashion should force action for the Blue Jays this offseason, especially since they have attempted to play at the very top of the free agent market in the past,” Finkelstein wrote on Friday. “This time around, coming off a season that makes them look like a true destination, I am predicting they will finally land the top free agent available and sign Kyle Tucker. Imagine a decade of Kyle Tucker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting back-to-back in the Blue Jays lineup? That’s the type of left-right combination that teams dream of having. Despite a few seasons where he has been hampered by injuries, Tucker is not going to have any problem signing a long-term deal, especially since he hits the market ahead of his age-29 season.”
Tucker had a down year by his standards last season. He slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs. However, his splits indicate that perhaps some of his struggles could be attributed to playing at Wrigley Field. His numbers on the road were stellar. He also battled through a hand injury in the second half.
Tucker has 134 home runs since 2021. He has been named to four consecutive All-Star Games. He has also won a Gold Glove and two Silver Sluggers. He is one of the best hitters in the sport, and signing him would be a great move for the Blue Jays.
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