The Toronto Blue Jays are juggling a lot of things in the MLB offseason. They have checked off a few boxes with the additions of Cody Ponce, Dylan Cease, and Tyler Rogers. Additionally, they have strengthened their prospect depth with the signings of Isay Veras, Hedbert Perez, and Celwin Hurkmans. Additionally, some bats linked to Toronto have yet to sign or be moved. Those names include, but aren’t limited to, Munetaka Murakami, Ketel Marte, Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, and Cody Bellinger.
While not everything to come out of the rumor mill surrounding Tucker and Bichette has been positive, there is other good news on the horizon. Unfortunately, the team will need to work fast to seal the deal on a few of these options. The first deadline is coming up in a few days.
Toronto Blue Jays Face Deadline With Munetaka Murakami
According to The Athletic, Murakami’s 45-day window ends on Monday, December 22nd, at 5 PM EST.
Jon Morosi has recently linked the Blue Jays to the 25-year-old slugger, among other teams.
“Murakami is of interest to teams like the Red Sox,” Morosi said. “The Mariners, the Tigers, the Phillies, the Mets, the Blue Jays, a lot of different teams. The Pirates, I have been told, are connected to Murakami.”
According to Morosi, the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates are interested in him. Murakami is an infielder who primarily plays first base and third base.
Another timeline to be aware of is when Tucker is predicted to sign. MLB.com insider Keegan Matheson has recently revealed when he believes Tucker will make his decision.
“I expect this to be a late December, early January thing,” Matheson said on the December 17th episode of the Toronto Sports Rush podcast. “This won’t stretch. This won’t be something that pushes Spring Training, I don’t think.”
The Blue Jays potentially have 13 days to decide on Tucker and four days to decide on Murakami. Do they push their chips in or wait for their respective markets to take shape?
The ‘Good News’ of Munetaka Murakami
The good news about pursuing Murakami is that there is one comparable MLB player. According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, he fits the profile of Kyle Schwarber.
“Munetaka Murakami could be the next Kyle Schwarber,” Sammon wrote on December 18, 2025. “Murakami, who is working out in California as he awaits a deal, holds elite exit velocity and bat speed, major elements in his appeal to clubs. His average exit velocity last season in Nippon Professional Baseball checked in at 96.5 mph.”
“Meanwhile, in MLB, Schwarber’s average exit velocity was 94.3 mph.”
Sammon also brings up a few other things to keep in mind when it comes to Murakami.
“Some of Murakami’s other NPB numbers, such as chase rate (24 percent), walk rate (14 percent) and strikeout rate (29 percent),” Sammon continued. “Are comparable to Schwarber’s MLB numbers (21.5 percent chase rate, 15 percent walk rate, 27 percent strikeout rate). Again, different experience level, different level of competition.”
“The issue with Murakami’s numbers is the fear they will worsen against better pitchers.”
While these concerns are valid, there is more good news. That news is how Murakami compares to Shohei Ohtani.
“In Japan, he struggled against pitches timed at 95 mph or higher,” Sammon wrote. “In MLB, he will see more of that kind of heat. Murakami will need to make more contact on pitches in the strike zone, too.”
“His 23.4 percent zone whiff rate in Japan was better than Shohei Ohtani’s 26.9 percent mark, and Ohtani was a few years younger.”
Blue Jays’ Chances of Signing Both Bichette & Tucker Are Fading Fast
MLB insider Jeff Passan has reported that the Blue Jays have a great chance of scoring their own Bichette-Tucker “daily double.” However, more recent reports suggest this is not the case.
Morosi is one example of an insider who doesn’t think Toronto will add both sluggers.
“The Tucker market will impact Bo Bichette,” Morosi said. “We do not expect the Jays to get both; it is a one or the other scenario. It certainly seems as though the Tucker decision will come before the Bichette decision.”
Despite this, both sluggers have been heavily connected to the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Additionally, both sluggers have Toronto as the frontrunner to sign them. So what gives?
No one is stopping them from signing both. However, if they pony up and pay the necessary money to bring both bats in, there is little doubt they would have the highest payroll in baseball.
Unfortunately, it takes two to tango. Toronto needs to have willing participants to come to their organization. If there is any organization that can pull off both, it’s the Blue Jays.
But their hopes of doing so are fading fast.
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