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Blue Jays get key update on Kyle Tucker.
The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to sign Kyle Tucker.
Toronto has shown plenty of interest in the superstar slugger, and it appears the Blue Jays are one of the final three teams. The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are also showing interest.
Although the Blue Jays have a long-term deal on the table, MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported the holdup is the salary, as Tucker is holding out for more money.
“He doesn’t want to go through the whole free agency experience again,” Nightengale said on Foul Territory. “I’m sure he thought there’d be more offers. What happened to those $400, $500 million deals that were talked about last summer? I think he’s waiting for the Blue Jays to up the AAV.
“The Blue Jays are offering six or seven years, get them to hike it up another $5-10 million a year. They aren’t going to the Mets level, but they can certainly raise it; that is what he’s waiting for.”
If Nightengale is accurate and Tucker is just waiting for the Blue Jays to offer more money, it could mean a deal could happen soon. The star outfielder appears set to want a long-term deal, and it is the Blue Jays who are willing to give it to him.
Blue Jays Insider Hints at Tucker Move
Toronto has been in Tucker’s market from the very beginning, and the team could be closing in on a deal with him.
Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet believes the Mets and Dodgers should be scared about Toronto’s interest, hinting that it is aggressive and serious.
“Look, they have had a great offseason so far, and they have a chance to make it even better. They are in this; the Mets and the Dodgers should be scared. But, simultaneously, nothing in free agency is done until it’s done,” Nicholson-Smith said of the Blue Jays’ pursuit of Tucker on Sportsnet.
It’s certainly quite the bold comment to make from Nicholson-Smith, but perhaps he knows something the public doesn’t.
Regardless, it does appear Tucker’s decision is nearing an end, and the Blue Jays will know one way or another soon.
Toronto Enjoyed Meeting With Tucker
The Blue Jays met with Tucker back in December as he visited the team’s spring training facility.
Tucker also had a chance to meet with the front office and manager John Schneider who enjoyed the meeting.
“We sat upstairs for about an hour, an hour-and-a-half, talked through kind of where the organization is. Where the organization is heading. Both from a team, roster-building standpoint, from an ownership standpoint, and he talked baseball,” said Schneider to Sportsnet. “It was pretty cool.”
Schneider, meanwhile, thought the meeting was productive and is hopeful he will sign with Toronto.
“It was very productive,” said Schneider. “Again, great, great player. And it’s not a surprise his skillset fits exactly what we’re doing. So, we’ll see where the next couple of weeks lead.”
Tucker is a four-time MLB All-Star. He hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs last season. He’s a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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