The Toronto Blue Jays were dealt a heartbreaking blow on Thursday night after superstar free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker opted to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Over the last couple of weeks, the Blue Jays had started looking like a clear-cut favorite to win the Tucker sweepstakes. However, those rumors and rumblings ended up being false. When all was said and done, Tucker made a rich team richer.
Seeing him sign with the team that defeated Toronto in the World Series last season was painful. It will also making a championship run in 2026 much more difficult.
That being said, the Blue Jays can’t afford to waste time feeling sorry for themselves. They need to get back into the free agency market and bring in a high-impact player.
One clear path the team should pursue would be to start showing interest in and pursuing free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, who has been negotiating unsuccessfully with the New York Yankees this offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays Should Pivot to Cody Bellinger
Losing out on Tucker is difficult, but Bellinger would be a great consolation prize.
During the 2025 MLB season with the Yankees, Bellinger played very well. He has been productive at the plate throughout his entire career.
Bellinger may not be talked about in the same light as Tucker, but his bat is capable of being almost as impactful. That much can be seen from his stat line from last year.
In the 152 games he played in New York last year, Bellinger hit 29 home runs to go along with 98 RBI and a slash line of .272/.334/.480. He is a former MVP for a reason.
As was seen last season in the World Series, Toronto is not far behind the Dodgers. Tucker puts more distance between the two teams, but Bellinger would close that distance immediately. He should immediately become the priority for the Blue Jays.
There Is Another Option for the Blue Jays
Bo Bichette is also still a free agent. He should come in as the No. 2 priority behind Bellinger, but re-signing him would also be a major plus for Toronto.
While not known for his defense, Bichette has been a very good player at the plate. His numbers last season were impressive.
When all was said and done for the 2025 campaign, Bichette played in 139 games. He hit 18 home runs, drove in 94 RBI, and slashed .311/.357/.483. In the World Series, he continued his strong performance with one home run, six RBI, and a slash line of .348/.444/.478 in seven games.
At the very least, the Blue Jays have to sign either Bellinger or Bichette. They cannot allow the addition of Tucker in Los Angeles to go unanswered.
Missing on Tucker is a tough pill to swallow. It looked like Toronto had the most aggressive offer on the table, but losing out on free agents happens to every team in baseball. What they do next will decide whether or not the Blue Jays make another run to the World Series in 2026.
Expect to see Toronto attempt to make another move. Tucker would have been nice, but there are still options left on the market.
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