The Toronto Blue Jays often find themselves coming up just short in their free agent pursuits.
But after a trip to the World Series, Toronto could be living large this winter.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale has predicted a double-whammy: He expects the Blue Jays to re-sign Bo Bichette, and he sees them as the possible front-runner for the top free agent on the market, Kyle Tucker.
"Tucker, a native of Tampa, will sign with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or Los Dodgers, GMs predict," Nightengale writes. "The San Francisco Giants are a darkhorse, but considering they still owe Rafael Devers $250 million, are in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract with Willy Adames and the second of a six-year, $151 million extension with Matt Chapman, there’s only so many nine-figure contracts the Giants can seemingly afford. They are paying $137 million alone to their top six players next year: Devers, Chapman, Adames, Robbie Ray, Logan Webb and Jung Hoo Lee. And don’t forget they are paying a record $10.5 million in salaries for a manager in 2026 – $4 million to fired Bob Melvin, $3.5 million to new manager Tony Vitello and $3 million to Tennessee for Vitello’s buyout.
"Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays are the perfect fit.
"Bichette, who was expected to depart Toronto a year ago and whose name surfaced a year ago in trade talks now is expected to stay put to complete their goodwill tour."