The Los Angeles Dodgers just made another massive splash - and this time, it’s Kyle Tucker heading to Hollywood. The star outfielder inked a four-year, $240 million deal with LA late on January 15, a contract that carries a jaw-dropping $60 million average annual value thanks to deferrals. That number alone turned heads across the league, especially considering the New York Mets reportedly offered Tucker a hefty $50 million per year to join them in Queens.
This is what the Dodgers do - they identify elite talent, outbid the competition, and stack their roster with stars. And while the Tucker signing only deepens LA’s already terrifying lineup, the ripple effects are being felt far beyond the West Coast.
Let’s talk about Toronto. The Blue Jays were firmly in the mix for Tucker, and landing him would’ve been the crown jewel of an already aggressive offseason that’s included Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto, among others. For AL East rivals like the Red Sox, the idea of facing a Tucker-boosted Jays lineup four times a year was more than a little unsettling.
So yes, there’s a bit of relief in Boston right now. But that sigh of relief might be short-lived.
Here’s why: the Jays didn’t just lose out on Tucker - they still have all the money they were ready to spend on him. And that could put them right back in the mix for another big-time name: Bo Bichette.
Bichette’s future in Toronto has been a lingering question this winter, especially with reports of his asking price hovering around $300 million. That’s a number Boston reportedly wasn’t willing to meet after missing out on Alex Bregman, who signed with the Cubs. But now, with Tucker off the board, Toronto might be more inclined to lock in one of their own - and that’s a move that could reshape the AL East just as dramatically.
If the Jays do bring back Bichette, it’s bad news for Boston. Even if the Red Sox weren’t planning to go all-in on him, a reunion between Toronto and their longtime shortstop would only solidify the Jays as a legitimate threat - potentially the scariest team in the division.
So where does that leave the Red Sox?
With Bregman gone and Bichette possibly off the table, Boston is exploring other infield options. Eugenio Suárez remains available and would come at a lower cost and shorter term, but the Sox are reportedly leaning toward the trade market instead.
Names like Isaac Paredes, Nico Hoerner, and Brendan Donovan have surfaced as potential fits. Ketel Marte was a top target earlier this offseason, but Arizona has since taken him off the table.
The Red Sox aren’t exactly cash-strapped - they could afford to meet Bichette’s price if they chose to - but fans have seen this story before. Boston finishing as a runner-up (or lower) in free agency has become a frustrating pattern, especially when it comes to top-tier talent.
And if Bichette ends up back in Toronto, flanked by the Jays’ new-look rotation and a bolstered bullpen, it’s not hard to imagine them making another deep playoff run - maybe even a return trip to the World Series. Against the Dodgers. Again.
For now, the Dodgers keep building their superteam, the Jays have money to burn, and the Red Sox are left trying to find the right move in a high-stakes game of musical chairs.