The Toronto Blue Jays spent big this offseason, pouring over $300 million into their roster with major additions to the rotation, bullpen, and lineup.
But they came up short on Kyle Tucker, watching the superstar outfielder sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a massive four-year, $240 million deal.
Missing out on Tucker stings. The Blue Jays were among the most serious suitors for the All-Star outfielder. But as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic points out, it’s not all doom and gloom in Toronto.
“The signing of Tucker would have capped a remarkable shift in perception for the Jays, demonstrating once and for all that free agents are more than willing to go to Toronto. But the Jays already were in a better place, as evidenced by the rest of their offseason. And even without Tucker, they should remain a force.”
That’s the thing about this Blue Jays roster – it was already shaping up to be one of the best in baseball before Tucker ever entered the picture.
Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto headline the new additions. Combined with smaller moves throughout the roster, Toronto’s built something that looks like a legitimate contender.
Sure, Tucker would’ve made them even better. The outfield is probably their weakest spot right now. But that signing would’ve helped more down the road than in 2026.
The Current Outfield Works
Look at what they’re working with: Daulton Varsho, George Springer, Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, and Anthony Santander. That’s not exactly a group that needs rescuing.
It’s a strong unit that doesn’t necessarily need Tucker to compete for a championship this season. The future’s a different story – Varsho and Springer become free agents after 2026 – but for this upcoming year, the Blue Jays have World Series-caliber talent.
What makes this different is where Toronto stands compared to other teams that missed on Tucker. The New York Mets, sitting with a massive hole in their outfield, are in much worse shape now that Tucker’s off the board.
From that perspective, the Blue Jays weren’t really hurt by Tucker’s decision. They built a roster that can win without him, even if adding him would’ve been nice.
The way I see it, Toronto accomplished what they needed to this offseason. They showed free agents will come to Canada, they addressed their biggest needs, and they put together a team that should compete with anyone.
Missing Tucker to the Dodgers – potentially they’re biggest rival after last year’s World Series – isn’t ideal. But it’s not a season-killer either.
