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Blue Jays predicted to lose Kyle Tucker.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been after Kyle Tucker, but the latest prediction has him spurning the team to go elsewhere.
Toronto has met with Tucker at their spring training facility and appears to be one of the frontrunners to land the star slugger. However, MLB insider and analyst Aailyan Mohammed of Newsweek predicts Tuker will spurn the Blue Jays and sign with the New York Mets.
“The Mets have not made a major splash in free agency this offseason,” Mohammed wrote. “They have signed Luke Weaver, Devin Williams and Jorge Polanco and also traded for Marcus Semien. However, they have lost Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil. They have an aggressive owner and a need for production in the lineup now. The Blue Jays and Mets are both capable of landing Tucker, and he could be a great addition to both squads.
“Steve Cohen and the Mets are not going to go an entire offseason watching star free agents sign with other teams. The Mets still have Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, and are not in a position to go into a rebuild. They get back to their spending ways by outbidding the Blue Jays by $30 million, creating a core of Soto, Lindor and Tucker for years to come. Prediction: Tucker signs with the Mets on an 11-year, $430 million deal after Blue Jays offer 11-year, $400 million.”
The Blue Jays losing out on Tucker would be a tough blow to a great start to their offseason. Tucker is the crown jewel of the offseason and would make Toronto’s offense that much better.
Blue Jays Looking to Add an Impact Bat
Toronto has been one of the most active teams this offseason, but the Blue Jays may not be done.
The Blue Jays have been aggressive this offseason, adding more talent after losing in Game 7 of the World Series. Now, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan hinted at the team landing multiple of the big bats.
“I don’t think the Blue Jays are done,” Passan said to Michael Kay. “I think they’re gonna get a big bat. Not sure if that’s Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette or maybe multiple of them. The Blue Jays right now are in a position where they are willing to spend. They feel like they have a window here, and they are going to take advantage of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s prime years.”
Toronto has shown interest in some of the top free agents available, and even if Tucker signs with the Mets, the Blue Jays could look to add Bichette and/or Bregman.
Toronto May Pursue an Infielder Over Tucker
Although the Blue Jays have shown interest in Tucker, the team may decide to pursue other options.
Toronto needs a bat, but MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes they are more interested in Bichette and Bregman as the team needs an infielder.
“All these things are in play for the Blue Jays,” Rosenthal said on Fair Territory on Monday. “I imagine Tucker and (Cody) Bellinger, to an extent, are as well. Their need, their greater need, is in the infield. The Blue Jays, you can see the logic there.”
Regardless of who they sign, all signs point to Toronto adding one of the impact hitters this free agency.
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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