By Drew VonScioShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the most active teams in free agency. The organization signed Dylan Cease on December 2, and signed former KBO star Cody Ponce on Thursday. Those two additions to the starting rotation solidified the Blue Jays' rotation.
With starting pitching squared away, Toronto seems set on switching gears this winter. The Blue Jays need hitters, and former MLB general manager Jim Bowden expects them to go big offensively.
..."The Blue Jays got the free-agent signings started early when they landed Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million deal with a net present AAV of around $26 million per season," Bowden wrote for The Athletic. "Now they are focused on signing either Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette and remain in play for a reliever like Pete Fairbanks. They know they were inches from a World Championship and they are determined to do what it takes to win it all in 2026."
Tucker and Bichette are the two best offensive free agents remaining at their respective positions. Bob Nightengale predicted on Thursday that the Dodgers will offer a short-term deal for Tucker, but it's projected to not be enough. Both players want long-term contracts, so the Blue Jays will have to pay up for their services.
Ideally, Blue Jays fans would love to see the organization sign both players. Financially, it seems unlikely to happen. Toronto has to play its cards right to get their big bat.
As of Thursday evening, Spotrac projects payroll to be $218.3 million for the Blue Jays, but this has not been updated to reflect Ponce's signing. Both players could be added if other money is shipped out of the organization.
Bichette's decision to return to Toronto doesn't just effect him, but it also effects Andres Giemenez and which position he plays defensively next season. The Blue Jays are preparing for him to play both in hopes of getting Bichette to return.
The offseason is far from over for Toronto as Ross Atkins won't stop adding until he wins a World Series.
More MLB: Mets Fans Get Unsettling Update on Reliever Pursuits After Robert Suarez Report
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