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The Toronto Blue Jays have a chance to make a splash this offseason.
The question, though, is whether their free agent statement will come with the returning Bo Bichette or with the newly available Kyle Tucker.
There's a reason for Toronto to be in on both guys.
MLB.com's Keegan Matheson laid out both cases in a new article this weekend.
First, what he wrote about Tucker:
Tucker’s deal could blow past $300 million, and while the price is steep, Tucker represents “Blue Jays baseball” with all of the knobs turned up to nine. Granted, none of those knobs are turned up to “10” with a truly elite tool, but he’s a rock-solid hitter who stands at the top of this market for a reason.
The Blue Jays should have the payroll flexibility to push beyond 2025’s numbers, and now that Rogers ownership has gotten a taste for deep postseason runs, it’s hard to go back to the old ways. For now, consider Tucker a market the Blue Jays will be involved in, but not a market they’ll chase if his number starts to run away from them.
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And now his Bichette case:
Bichette, on the other hand, comes with sentimentality. Front offices try not to let those feelings creep in, but for fans, this feels like a diet version of the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. conversation from a year ago, fearing that a longtime franchise cornerstone could be on the verge of walking.
“A great player,” general manager Ross Atkins said at the GM Meetings this week. “Bo has been a significant part of us being in a strong position today. He’s a reason that we’re coming off of five solid seasons of baseball and one really, really good year of baseball. He’s had a lot to do with it. I know he’s going to be attractive to the market, and we’ll be in his market.”
Bichette’s market will have a massive range between its ceiling and floor. The Blue Jays have said out loud that they’d be open to Bichette playing shortstop if he’s insistent on it, but this is a better baseball team with Bichette at second and Andrés Giménez at short. Expect Toronto to remain in Bichette’s market as it unfolds, which could take some time.
There has been at least a bit of speculation as to whether the Blue Jays could wind up with both of these guys.
At least based on how Matheson explains it, that doesn't seem too likely. They'll raise their payroll, but that would be a crazy boost to their salary obligations.
Then it becomes a matter of wants vs. needs vs. available spots.
The Blue Jays have choices to make. It could be an exciting offseason, if things go their way.
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