The landscape of this offseason has been absolutely fascinating to watch unfold, and it’s the kind of situation where everything is connected in ways that might not be immediately obvious. We’ve got three absolute superstars still on the market — Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and Alex Bregman — and the decisions they make over the next few weeks could have serious ripple effects on where Bo Bichette ultimately signs. Let’s break down what’s happening with each of these guys and why it matters so much for the Blue Jays’ star shortstop.
Kyle Tucker is the headliner here, and frankly, it’s wild that we’re in the middle of December with him unsigned. The man is seeking around $400 million — yes, you read that right — and while that seems astronomical, you can actually make the case for it. In 2025, Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs, 25 steals, 25 doubles, and an .841 OPS while playing exceptional defense. He’s an All-Star, a Silver Slugger winner, and represents exactly the kind of complete player that contending teams dream about. The Blue Jays have emerged as the frontrunner for Tucker, and there’s real momentum building around Toronto. They’ve got the money, they just won a World Series, and they’re hungry. The Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, and even the Cubs (his 2025 team) have been mentioned, but Toronto seems to be the favorite right now according to multiple insiders. If the Blue Jays land Tucker, it changes everything else.
Cody Bellinger is in a curious position. He just finished one of his best seasons in years with the Yankees, hitting .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in 152 games. He opted out of his $25 million player option, and now he’s looking for security on a long-term deal. The projections are pointing toward something in the range of $140 million over six years. The Yankees desperately want him back — he’s their top target — but there’s reportedly a gap in negotiations. This is where it gets interesting. The Mets, Dodgers, and Phillies are all lurking as alternatives. If the Yankees can’t agree with Bellinger on terms, one of those teams could swoop in. And here’s the thing — Bellinger is reportedly waiting to see where Tucker lands before committing, because if Tucker signs in the National League, it could inflate the entire market, or at least change the landscape of available jobs. Smart strategy on his part.
Alex Bregman is probably the most complicated puzzle of the three. The guy has bounced around, just opted out of a three-year deal with the Red Sox which he signed last winter, putting him back on the market at 31 years old. He only appeared in 114 games in 2025 due to injury, which complicates things. The projections have shifted up recently though — now pointing toward five years and $170 million. The Red Sox could come back for him, the Cubs (who gave him four years and $115 million last winter) are interested again, and the Tigers made him a six-year, $171.5 million offer last offseason and could revisit that conversation. There’s also talk of the Astros potentially being involved since he used to play there. Bregman’s market isn’t as heated as Tucker’s, so he might end up waiting a bit longer, which means his decision could actually come after some of these other dominoes fall.
Now let’s talk about what all of this means for Bo Bichette, because this is where it gets really juicy. Bichette declined the Blue Jays’ $22.025 million qualifying offer and is now an unrestricted free agent. He’s a 27-year-old shortstop coming off a fantastic regular season (.311 average, 18 home runs, 94 RBIs) and an even better postseason performance during Toronto’s World Series run. The Blue Jays desperately want to keep him — he’s homegrown, he’s proven, and he fits perfectly alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But here’s the issue: the Blue Jays’ wallet isn’t infinite.
If Kyle Tucker signs with the Blue Jays, it dramatically changes what Toronto can offer Bichette. Tucker is going to command around $36-40 million per year on an 11-year deal. That’s enormous, and it eats into the payroll significantly. In that scenario, Bichette might look elsewhere — maybe the Red Sox, maybe even the Yankees if they strike out on Bellinger, maybe the Mets. But if Tucker goes to the Dodgers or Yankees, the Blue Jays suddenly have millions more to spend on retaining Bichette, which makes a long-term commitment much more realistic.
The other part of the equation is Bregman. If Bregman ends up with Detroit (which some analysts believe will happen), or with the Red Sox, or the Cubs, that’s one less team competing for Bichette’s services. But if Toronto somehow manages to sign both Tucker and Bichette, that’s a monumental statement about their commitment to winning, and it puts real pressure on other AL East teams.
Here’s the thing, folks: The dominoes are all lined up, and we’re just waiting for someone to put the first one down. Kyle Tucker’s decision will likely trigger everything else. If he’s a Blue Jay, Bichette probably stays. If he’s not, Bichette might be shopping around. And Bregman’s decision, whenever it comes, will determine whether teams are looking to add more middle-of-the-order production.
With that… The next few weeks are going to be incredibly important for the entire AL East, and especially for a Blue Jays organization that’s tasted World Series baseball and wants to make another championship run. It’s all connected, and that’s what makes this moment so compelling.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!