The Blue Jays have reportedly offered Kyle Tucker a 10-year, $350MM contract.

Kyle TuckerThe four-year, $240MM deal with the Dodgers capped off an interesting journey through free agency for the outfielder, as Tucker opted to get a short-term deal with a much higher average annual value and built-in flexibility (opting out after the 2027 and 2028 seasons) over a long-term deal. Multiple reports suggested Tucker’s only long-term offer on the table came from the Blue Jays, and Jon Heyman of the New York Post writes that Toronto’s terms of the offer were $350MM over ten years.

This is very much in line with the 11-year, $400MM projection that MLB Trade Rumors predicted for Tucker at the start of the season. That price tag naturally would have made many teams out of the bidding from the start, but even among big-market teams, there seems to be reluctance to give Tucker a long-term commitment — perhaps because of the injuries that cost him time the past two seasons, and contributed to his second-half slump with the Cubs last year. The Mets were Tucker’s other suitors but New York was reportedly willing to offer a four-year, $220MM deal with multiple opt-outs.

In terms of pure dollars, $350MM would be tied for the seventh-highest contract in baseball history, and only 15 contracts have ever exceeded the annual average of $35MM. It would be the largest free agent deal in Blue Jays history but not their largest contract, per se Vladimir Guerrero Jr.A 14-year, $500MM extension from last spring takes that title. The Jays have gotten bigger in the past, though, as they do Shohei Ohtani an offer similar to the heavily deferred ten-year, $700MM deal the superstar took from the Dodgers through the 2023-24 season.

This is now the fourth time in three offseasons that the Jays have made a big push for a player who ended up signing with the Dodgers, among Tucker, Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamotoagain Roki Sasaki. Given how the latter three played a major role in Los Angeles’ World Series victory over Toronto last season, missing Tucker also adds bitterness to the Blue Jays’ unsuccessful pursuit. That longtime shortstop didn’t help either Bo Bichette then he signed with the Mets on a three-year, $126MM deal that also included two opt-outs, leaving Toronto short of its top two offseason targets.

That said, i Kazuma Okamoto the signing filled a hole in the Blue Jays’ outfield, and led to some speculation that signing Tucker in the outfield was more important to the Jays than reuniting with Bichette. There’s also the fact that Toronto had years of talking to Bichette about long-term extensions while he was under team control, as well as acquisitions Andres Gimenez from the Guardians last winter it seems that the Jays are preparing for the post-Bichette era in the short term.

Had Tucker accepted the Blue Jays’ offer, he would have joined Guerrero as one of the team’s cornerstones for the next decade. He would also strengthen the existing Jays field George Springer again Daulton Varsho both are scheduled to hit free agency next winter, though Springer will primarily serve as a DH in 2025. The Jays hope that Anthony Santander (their biggest signing since last season) could bounce back from what has been a losing 2025 campaign, and Okamoto’s signing could mean a breakout star. Addison Barger can be used more as a right midfielder than a third player.

For now, Toronto’s regular outfield looks similar to their 2025 plan – Varsho in center field, Springer and Santander perhaps splitting time between DH and one corner spot, and some combination of Barger, Nathan Lukesagain Davis Schneider we all find time somewhere around the corner. Barger figures to play third base and Schneider can play second base, a constant help to manager John Schneider’s ability to get everyone at bats.

Of course, it’s also possible that the Blue Jays could bolster their outside image with another new face. Cody Bellinger he’s been on the Jays’ radar this winter and in seasons past, and is reportedly looking for a longer-term deal than the five-year, mid-$155MM deal the Yankees apparently have on the table. The Mets have also been linked to a market for Bellinger, though that could change now that the Amazins have landed Bichette. The Jays’ willingness to give Tucker 10 years obviously doesn’t mean they’ll give Bellinger anything but five years, but Toronto has been so aggressive in free agency that it wouldn’t be surprising if the team voted for the best outfielder left on the open market.

Landing Tucker would have been another turning point in what has already been an expensive season for Toronto. Dylan CeaseThe seven-year, $210MM contract is the largest free agent deal in franchise history, and the Jays invested heavily in Okamoto (four years/$60MM), Tyler Rogers (three years/$37MM), and Cody Ponce (three years/$30MM). The Blue Jays payroll has hit a record high, as RosterResource estimates the $310.5MM luxury tax number already puts the Jays over the $304MM fine line. This comes with a 90 percent additional payment for the Jays as a penalty for their second consecutive year as taxpayers, so Tucker’s $35MM AAV for 2026 would come with a whopping $31.5MM tax cap.

With ownership clearly willing to spend in pursuit of a championship, one wonders if Tucker (or Bichette) represented a special case, and the Jays aren’t willing to spend that much on Bellinger or any other outstanding free agents left. Toronto can look to inexpensive free agents or the trade market to address any other roster holes.