The Toronto Blue Jays swung big this offseason-and missed. Kyle Tucker is headed to Los Angeles.
Bo Bichette? He’s now wearing Mets blue and orange.
Toronto pushed hard for both, but came up empty-handed, and the result is a lineup still missing the kind of middle-of-the-order presence that can shift a postseason race.
But here’s where things get interesting. While the Bichette-to-Mets deal stung, it may have opened a new path-one that leads straight to Cody Bellinger.
Let’s be clear: the Jays aren’t in a position to wait around for July reinforcements. They need power now.
And their pursuit of Tucker earlier this winter-reportedly a 10-year offer-tells us something crucial: Toronto is willing to stretch on years if the bat is worth the risk. That context matters, especially with the Bellinger market tightening and other contenders starting to draw their lines in the sand.
Take the Yankees, for example. According to Bill Madden on January 16, New York has planted its flag at a five-year, $155-160 million range for Bellinger-and they’re not moving.
“They will not engage in a bidding war for him,” a source told Madden. “They’re at where they’re at, and that’s not changing.”
Meanwhile, the Mets-fresh off landing Bichette-are focused on shorter-term deals. That leaves Toronto in a rare spot: they can win this race not just with dollars, but with years. A seven-year offer, north of $30 million annually, could shift the dynamics quickly.
Bichette’s departure didn’t kill the Blue Jays’ hunt for a star bat-it may have clarified it.
Now, let’s talk Bellinger vs. Tucker.
On the surface, Bellinger had the better 2025 season-more homers, more RBIs, more hits. One former GM reportedly called him “Tucker light,” but that label doesn’t quite hold up after last year’s numbers.
That said, zoom out to a four-year window, and the picture tilts back toward Tucker. He’s got more home runs, significantly more stolen bases, and the same number of RBIs in fewer games.
Durability and dynamic offense-that’s Tucker’s edge. And that’s why his deal with the Dodgers likely sits a tier above what Bellinger can command.
Toronto knows this.
Still, Bellinger isn’t just a consolation prize. He’s a proven left-handed bat with power, defensive versatility, and postseason experience. And in a Blue Jays lineup now missing Bichette’s impact bat, Bellinger could be the kind of addition that reshapes the offense and re-energizes a clubhouse.
The Tucker signing also complicates things for the Yankees, especially with the Mets making aggressive moves. And while losing Bichette stings in the short term, his contract’s opt-outs could give Toronto future flexibility-turning a tough decision into a calculated long-term win.
For now, the Jays are still in the game. And with Bellinger’s market narrowing, they just might be in the driver’s seat.