The Kyle Tucker sweepstakes are officially over, and once again, the Los Angeles Dodgers came out on top. For the Toronto Blue Jays, it’s déjà vu - another offseason target gone to L.A., another pivot required.
But there’s no time to linger on what might’ve been. The focus now shifts to what could be, and that brings us to Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger isn’t just a consolation prize. He’s a legitimate impact bat, a left-handed outfielder with pop, pedigree, and a track record that suggests he’s far from done making noise at the plate. And with the Yankees reportedly hitting a snag in negotiations with him, the Blue Jays have a golden opportunity - not just to fill a key need, but to weaken a division rival in the process.
Bellinger Checks the Boxes
Let’s start with the basics. Bellinger and Tucker have some overlapping skill sets.
Both swing from the left side, both roam the outfield, and both can change a game with one swing. Last season, Bellinger actually out-homered Tucker, 29 to 22 - though it’s worth noting Tucker missed time due to injury, which clearly impacted his power numbers.
On paper, Tucker does edge Bellinger in most career rate stats - batting average, OBP, slugging, OPS, you name it. He’s also two years younger.
But Bellinger brings his own impressive resume to the table: a 30.5 career bWAR, 225 home runs, and over 1,100 hits across nine big-league seasons. And after a few down years post-MVP, he’s quietly rebuilt his value.
In 2025, Bellinger posted a 5.1 bWAR season with the Yankees - his best since his 2019 MVP campaign with the Dodgers. That year, he was worth 8.7 bWAR and looked like one of the game’s most complete players. Since then, it’s been a journey - a rough exit from L.A., a bounce-back stint with the Cubs, and now, a resurgence in the Bronx.
The Numbers Behind the Rebound
What’s been most encouraging about Bellinger’s recent performance is how much more disciplined and efficient he’s become at the plate. His strikeout rate ranked in the 91st percentile last season - a far cry from the 150 strikeouts he logged back in 2022. That marked his third straight season with fewer than 90 Ks, a sign that he's adjusted his approach and is seeing the ball better.
His whiff rate was in the 84th percentile, his walk rate climbed to 9.8%, and he posted a hard-hit rate of 38.4% - his best since 2020. These aren’t just surface-level improvements; they’re indicators of a hitter who’s found his rhythm again, who’s controlling at-bats, and who’s driving the ball with authority.
The Boras Factor
Of course, any conversation about Bellinger’s next destination has to include his agent - Scott Boras. He’s already had a busy offseason with the Blue Jays, representing both Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto, who signed with Toronto.
But that doesn’t mean there’s a hometown discount coming. If anything, Boras just helped Tucker land a deal with an AAV north of $60 million.
That sets the bar.
So no, Bellinger won’t come cheap. But if the Blue Jays are serious about adding a left-handed slugger with postseason experience and positional versatility, Bellinger fits the bill better than anyone left on the market.
A Two-for-One Opportunity
And here’s where things get even more interesting: signing Bellinger wouldn’t just help Toronto - it would hurt New York. The Yankees reportedly offered Bellinger a five-year, $155 million deal, but the two sides are at an impasse. Bellinger is said to be seeking a seven-year pact, and while that’s a hefty ask for a 31-year-old, it’s not unprecedented.
Let’s not forget: the Blue Jays gave a six-year, $150 million deal to a 31-year-old George Springer back in 2021. That move paid off. And in a market that’s quickly thinning out, sometimes the best move is the bold one.
Bellinger wouldn’t just plug a hole in the lineup - he’d inject some swagger, some playoff pedigree, and a left-handed bat that opposing pitchers have to respect. If Toronto wants to keep pace in the AL East, this is the kind of swing they need to take.
Tucker's gone. The clock is ticking. And Bellinger might just be the answer the Blue Jays are looking for - and the one the Yankees are hoping they don’t find.