Overview
- ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports other front offices consider Toronto the favorite to land four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker this offseason.
- Contract forecasts have swelled into a 10-plus-year range, with The Athletic projecting up to 12 years and $460 million, narrowing the field of realistic bidders.
- Potential pursuers include the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Giants and Orioles, though Los Angeles is said to prefer shorter terms and New York’s clubs already feature MVP-caliber right fielders.
- Toronto’s pursuit intersects with Bo Bichette’s free agency, with reporting suggesting the Blue Jays may have to choose between retaining their shortstop or committing to Tucker; Jorge Polanco has been floated as a fallback if Bichette departs.
- The Cubs are widely viewed as unlikely to meet Tucker’s price after trading for him last winter, positioning them for only a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere, while Toronto is also linked to contingency options like Cody Bellinger and Kyle Schwarber.