The Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets join the race for Tucker, with contract length strategy being a key factor.

Even after acquiring ace Dylan Cease, reliever Tyler Rogers, KBO foreign player Cody Ponce, and strong Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto in the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays continue to aggressively chase 2025-26’s premier free agent, Kyle Tucker.

According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays have "stepped up their efforts" to sign Tucker. Although the four-time All-Star outfielder has been linked with several teams, Bannon notes that Toronto’s recruitment has recently become "more aggressive."

Last month, Tucker personally visited the Blue Jays’ player development center in Dundee, Florida, for a meeting. Two industry insiders recently told MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand they believe the Blue Jays will ultimately be Tucker’s destination this offseason.

The Blue Jays’ strongest competition for this left-handed power hitter likely comes from the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette reported Wednesday that both teams are also aggressively pursuing Tucker.

Will Sammon of The Athletic confirmed yesterday that the Dodgers, Mets, and Blue Jays are all under consideration by Tucker. The Dodgers and Mets tend to offer shorter-term contracts with higher average annual salaries, while league sources cited by Sammon expect the Blue Jays to propose a longer-term deal, which could be their competitive edge.