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MLB Network Crew Shoots Down Blue Jays’ Kyle Tucker Pursuit
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- MLB Network Crew Shoots Down Blue Jays’ Kyle Tucker Pursuit
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Fans in Toronto were all in a tizzy on Wednesdsay when word leaked out that top free agent Kyle Tucker was seen in Dunedin touring the Blue Jays ' highly advanced player development and spring training complex. The defending American League champions have also been annointed the frontrunners by many to sign the All-Star outfielder.
But former major league first baseman Yonder Alonso and MLB Network host Matt Vasgersian have thrown some cold water on the Jays' chances of actually signing Tucker.
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The fact is, Tucker lives not far down the road in Tampa, so it was certainly not out of his way to pay a visit, and the MLB Network crew just feels this is more for 'show' than anything else. They don't think that Tucker is a good fit on the Jays' roster.
"This might be an unpopular take. (But) this feels 'eyewash-y' to me," said Vasgersian, and Alonso holdheartedly agreed.
"I just don't think, for the Blue Jays , it makes all that much sense. (They have) a lot of left-handed pop, I feel they need a right-handed hitter. What's going to happen with Bichette? What's going to happen with that bullpen? I feel that they have more needs to try to check the box on."
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Bullpen & Bichette are two reasons that a Kyle Tucker chase feels unnecessary for the Blue Jays
Alonso does have a point. Two of them, in fact. On the Bichette front, if they're really serious about re-signing their longtime, organizational homegrown product, it doesn't seem like there's room for both him and Tucker. In fact, insider Jon Morosi said this week that it really comes down to an 'either-or' proposition for Toronto on Bichette and Tucker. Positional requirements in the Jays lineup really don't offer up room for both, along with some other key young pieces on the roster.
As for the bullpen, that certainly must be the team's biggest focus to concentrate on next. They went out and spent big on one noteworthy starting pitcher in Dylan Cease , plus another calculated gamble in KBO MVP Cody Ponce . It just feels like there's simply no way that Toronto can go into 2026 with Jeff Hoffman as the closer. Home runs were a problem for him throughout the season, and none bigger than the Game 7, 9th inning game-tying blast he served up to the LA Dodgers ' Miguel Rojas . The back end of the bullpen must be addressed.
Blue Jays need to make a splash in the bullpen before chasing Tucker
And it wasn't just Hoffman. Most of the Blue Jays' bullpen struggled through much of the season and into the postseason. Their 4.44 playoff bullpen ERA was third-worst among the 12 playoff teams. Their 17 home runs allowed in 18 October/November games placed them dead last in that category.
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The Jays have been linked to names like Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez , two of the very best closers in baseball on the free agent market. They will cost a pretty penny, and they'll have to work hard to secure one of them. Does it make sense to focus on another offensive addition when they have to address the relief corps?
"The (Jays') offense wasn't in 'struggle mode' during the postseason or during the whole year," Alonso added. "If it ain't broke, why fix it?… There's other needs that are just as important, if not more important, than going to get a guy like this."
No question about it: The bullpen should be Priority #1 at this point. And bringing back Bichette (to play second base, ideally), should also rank as a priority above signing Tucker.
As for the 28-year-old's visit to Dunedin, we must all keep in mind that it's a normal thing for free agent players to do. Visiting any interested suitors at their spring training facility is just a matter of due diligence. Blue Jays beat writer Ben Nicholson-Smith hammered home that point:
As he wrote, "It would be a surprise if Tucker didn't also visit some other rumoured suitors, such as the Dodgers, Yankees or Phillies , as his market develops…
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"As of Wednesday, it appears extremely unlikely that the Blue Jays would land both (Tucker and Bichette), and it's possible that they don't land either one."
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