Inside The Blue Jays

MLB Insider Picks Blue Jays as Perfect Landing Spot for Top Free Agent Slugger

The Blue Jays could be landing another huge player before the offseason is over.
Maddy Dickens|
A view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat before game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
A view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat before game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

In this story:

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have been anything but passive this offseason as they are attempting to strengthen every part of their roster before opening day comes around in March.

The ballclub started with its pitching staff as they got back Shane Bieber after he exercised his option, locked down strikeout machine Dylan Cease and then took on a low-risk high-reward KBO MVP in Cody Ponce.

After securing another arm to their bullpen with Tyler Rogers it seems like they are about done with big contracts, at least with their pitching staff as management is actively pursuing two elite bats to have for 2026, one of which is outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Tucker is an all-around offensive threat and would be an excellent complement to the Jays current hitting line up and one MLB insider, Andrew Simon, believes Toronto would be the perfect home for Tucker.

An Outfield with Tucker

Kyle Tucker hitting a solo home run against the Brewer
Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

If the ballclub is able to secure the two-time Silver Slugger then their already strong outfield will become nearly unbeatable as he will join another Silver Slugger (George Springer) as well as Gold Glove Award winner Daulton Varsho, who is also a big bat.

Then there is Addison Barger who just had a breakout season in a breakthrough season where he hit 21 long balls and 74 RBI.

With a hitting lineup as stacked as the Blue Jays it is almost hard to fathom why the Jays are pursuing him as hard as they are, until you look at his stat lines.

This was an "off" year for Tucker, battling an injury to his hand halfway through the season, but his performance still led to a Silver Slugger Award as he finished with 22 home runs, 77 RBI, and 87 drawn walks to complement a slash line of .266/.377/.464.

The Blue Jays would be the third team for Tucker as he spent the majority of his career with the Astros before landing with the Cubs last season as he was traded away at the end of 2024. Now he is ready to sign to a long-term deal and the Jays are beckoning for him to come their way.

It seems safe to say that if the Jays do sign Tucker then an outfielder (or two) will likely be dealt away as there will be too many players on the roster listed as an outfielder. While that will be a hard decision to make for John Schneider and the Jays it will be one they have to make as landing Tucker will bolster their offense.

Recommended Articles

Published
Maddy Dickens
MADDY DICKENS

Maddy Dickens resides in Loveland, Colorado. She grew up with two older brothers, where their lives revolved around sports. She earned a master's degree in business management from Tarleton State University while simultaneously playing basketball and competing in rodeo at the collegiate level. She successfully parlayed a reserve national championship into a professional rodeo career and now stays involved in upper-level athletics by writing for On SI on several different MLB teams' pages, along with some NCAA sites.

Home/News