The Toronto Blue Jays have been very aggressive this offseason, and the team is still hoping to sign Kyle Tucker.
Tucker is considered the crown jewel of the offseason, and several teams have shown interest in him. The slugger has been linked to multiple teams. But the Blue Jays have been one of the teams most interested in him.
Since Tucker became a free agent, several Blue Jays players have been in his Instagram comments recruiting him to Toronto. Now, earlier this week, Blue Jays slugger George Springer was spotted with Tucker at the TGL event.
Tucker and Springer did play with each other in Houston and are friends. But, there was no doubt a chance for Springer to help sell Tucker on Toronto and discuss the city and the organization, to potentially put the signing over the edge.
If Tucker does end up signing with the Blue Jays, his friendship with Springer and Myles Straw could help play a role.
Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs last season with the Chicago Cubs.
Blue Jays Remain Very Interested in Tucker
Toronto has been pursuing Tucker since the offseason started.
Tucker visited the Blue Jays’ spring training facility and met with the front office and manager John Schneider. Schneider said at the Winter Meetings that the meeting was productive and they learned a lot about each other.
However, there hasn’t been much news since then. MLB insider Bob Nightengale said Toronto remains persistent in trying to sign him.
“The Blue Jays still would love to sign the most desired free agent of the winter. Outfielder Kyle Tucker, whose $400 million market hasn’t materialized,” Nightengale wrote. “The Blue Jays have been trying to sign him since he set foot at their Dunedin, Florida, workout facility in December.”
Toronto has been predicted to land one of Tucker or Bo Bichette, but after the Kazuma Okamoto signing, Tucker seems more of a fit. Yet, Nightengale isn’t ruling out the team signing Bichette.
“The Blue Jays still have the door wide open for infielder Bo Bichette to return. But considering they couldn’t sign him to an extension last season, and have gotten nowhere in two months since he has become a free agent, a reunion appears more unlikely by the day,” Nightengale added.
“The Blue Jays certainly aren’t desperate to bring him back knowing Okamoto could be their primary third baseman. Shifting Ernie Clement to second base with Andres Gimenez at shortstop and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entrenched at first base.”
Regardless, the Blue Jays are looking to make another move after losing in Game 7 of the World Series.
Toronto Still Could Make Another Move
Although Toronto has been the most active team this offseason, it still may not be done.
Instead, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the team is still looking at ways to improve. And, the team has full support from ownership to spend more money.
“You have heard me say, probably too many times to count, that we will always be open to making our organization and team better, if there is a way to do that,” Atkins said on Tuesday. “At this point, we were answering the question back in early December and even in November, that we felt good about our team. That remains the case.
“We’ve made it better, so we do feel good about your team. The one thing I would add is that additions at this point would cut away from playing time from players we feel are very good Major League pieces. So we have to factor that in. But we’ve always had incredible support from ownership.”
So, with the Blue Jays having more money to spend, the team could still end up with one of Tucker or Bichette.
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