The Toronto Blue Jays have been here, and it feels like Deja vu. Remember when the Blue Jays waited on a guy named Shohei Ohtani and how that has backfired massively. The same might be happening with Kyle Tucker as the Blue Jays have started to slip, and a team from New York has tightened its grip.

“The New York Mets met with him recently, I believe last week, over Zoom,” said Jays Digest host Nick Gosse. “I’m not saying they (the Blue Jays) aren’t the favorites for Kyle Tucker, but the longer this drags on, the scarier it gets… kind of threw some water on the Kyle Tucker to the Jays stuff and said that the Mets are a sneaky team.”

Toronto entered the offseason as Kyle Tucker‘s favorite, willing to spend heavily even with Dodgers pressure.

The Blue Jays backed that stance by committing over $300 million this winter to major contracts. Front office signals suggested Tucker remained central, with projections around 10 years and roughly $300 million.

That confidence held steady for months, keeping Toronto ahead in most leaguewide expectations publicly reported.

Momentum shifted after official free agent meetings, when the New York Mets emerged alongside Toronto and Los Angeles.

Former general manager Jim Duquette reported all three clubs met Kyle Tucker in person or via Zoom sessions. Those meetings confirmed New York’s interest, ending any doubt that the Mets were fully involved there. Soon after, multiple reporters framed the Mets as a sneaky contender capable of changing timelines.

The pursuit centers on Kyle Tucker‘s production in the 2023 season with 29 homers and 112 RBIs. He added a .284 average and 30 stolen bases, showing power, contact, and speed together. Those numbers explain projections placing his free agency value near $300 million across a decade.

For Toronto, that production represents the lineup balance they have chased since recent postseason runs.

The stakes sharpen with Bo Bichette expected to sign elsewhere after declining a qualifying offer.

Losing Tucker after months of pursuit would remove a planned anchor from Toronto’s evolving core. That outcome would contrast sharply with Toronto $300 million spending spree designed to extend contention windows.

As talks continue, fans watch each meeting closely, knowing this decision shapes the next competitive chapter.

Toronto has seen this movie before, and Kyle Tucker‘s talk echoes the Shohei Ohtani wait. Jim Duquette and Nick Gosse’s signals show the New York Mets pressure rising as Toronto hesitates. If Tucker slips away, the Blue Jays will own another expensive lesson in timing.

The Jays think things are risky, but the Dodgers think that Kyle Tucker is not signing with the Mets

Everyone remembers how patience turned painful the last time Toronto waited this long. That context hangs heavy again, even as the Blue Jays sense danger creeping in. The Dodgers, meanwhile, seem oddly calm, unconvinced the Mets are the real threat. Somewhere in the middle sits Kyle Tucker, with Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York quietly daring each other to blink.

Kyle Tucker’s market is moving slowly, but teams remain engaged as spring training approaches next month. Early expectations of a $400M deal faded, with projections shifting toward shorter contracts near $40M AAV. Tucker’s 2025 season still showed value, finishing with 27 home runs and a .278 average.

That production explains why discussions continue, even as the free agent board has thinned quickly.

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Toronto remains the favorite for a long-term deal, with projections around 8 years and $320M. The Blue Jays can offer stability, while Tucker’s career 140 OPS+ supports that level of contract. If Toronto steps back, the market narrows naturally toward the Mets and Dodgers quickly now. At that point, structure and fit begin to matter more than headline numbers for Tucker.

Los Angeles offers lineup protection, reducing pressure after Tucker’s late-season slump with Chicago last year ended. The Los Angeles Dodgers also favor short deals, with projections near 3 years and $120M total value. New York brings risk, as Tucker would replace Pete Alonso and face heavier expectations immediately.

That pressure, combined with market scrutiny, explains why the Dodgers profile as a cleaner fit.

Toronto knows hesitation carries scars, yet still weighs Kyle Tucker like a calculated gamble. Los Angeles projects confidence, quietly acting as if the Mets never truly entered Tucker’s race. In the end, Kyle Tucker decides timing, not panic, while front offices pretend patience.