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Blue Jays: The case to sign both Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Dec 4, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 4, 2025, 09:20 EST
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The Winter Meetings haven’t even begun yet, and the Toronto Blue Jays have already had a busy off-season.
Just over a week ago, it was reported that the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal worth $210 million (with deferred money). That move became official on Tuesday, which was followed by the reported news that they have also signed Cody Ponce to a three-year deal worth $30 million.
While their work for the rotation may be finished, barring a trade involving José Berríos, their work this off-season is far from over. On top of needing a high-leverage arm or two, the Blue Jays also need a bat.
A big reason why they were two outs away from winning the World Series is because of the rebound season of Bo Bichette. In 2024, the shortstop had a career-worst year, slashing .225/.277/.322 with four home runs in 336 plate appearances, missing half the season due to injury. He returned with a vengeance in 2025, slashing .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs in 628 plate appearances for a career-best 134 wRC+.
Unfortunately, it was a contract year, meaning that Bichette is currently a free agent. The Blue Jays undoubtedly have interest in re-signing their homegrown superstar, but the interest in Kyle Tucker is clear as well.
On Wednesday evening, FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that Tucker visited the Blue Jays’ training facility in Dunedin, Florida. That’s pretty standard for big free agents. Shohei Ohtani also famously visited the facility in late 2023, but it at least shows the Blue Jays are genuinely interested in the outfielder.
It’s been reported lately that the chances they sign both players are slim, especially after the Cease contract, but that shouldn’t be the case.
Signing both Tucker and Bichette would instantly make them the World Series favourite. Imagine a lineup with those two, plus George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, Anthony Santander, and Andrés Giménez/Ernie Clement? It’s hard to argue against that being one of the best lineups in baseball, paired with one of the best rotations in baseball.
Financially, it’s a lot of money to add to the payroll. With the new signings, as well as arbitration estimates for Varsho, Clement, Eric Lauer, and Heineman, the Blue Jays are projected to be at just over $275 million for their luxury tax payroll, according to Spotrac. They’ve already blown past the first tax threshold of $244 million, the second consecutive season they’ve done so.
The second tax threshold is $284 million. They’re almost guaranteed to blow by that in the coming days. It will be the second consecutive season to pass the second threshold, meaning their 2026 first-round drops back 10 spots. 
Additionally, at the end of the 2026 season (if they remain over the competitive balance tax), they’ll pay 30% on any overages, with that rising to 50% if they remain over the CBT following the 2027 season. They’ll also pay a 45 percent surcharge if they remain $40-$60 million over the $244 million threshold.
There is a third threshold if a team goes $60 million over the $244 million threshold. With the Blue Jays’ payroll expected to be at $275 million, there’s a strong chance they’ll surpass this threshold if the Jays sign Tucker. There’s a chance that the Jays stay under it if they sign Bichette as well as a reliever or two, but it’ll be close.
The penalty for going over is the 30% percentage tax on any overages, as well as a 60% surcharge. If the Jays go over it to sign either Tucker or Bichette, they may as well sign the other as well.
Why? Well, the Blue Jays have a ton of money coming off the books after 2026. George Springer, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Yimi García, Daulton Varsho, and Eric Lauer are all set to become free agents at the end of the season. José Berríos has a player opt-out, and Myles Straw has a team opt-out, with the buyout fee being charged to the Cleveland Guardians.
Springer earns just under $24.2 million in actual payroll, with a luxury tax charge of $25 million. Gausman earns $23 million in actual payroll, with a $22 million charge to the luxury tax. Bieber earns $16 million in payroll, but just $13 million towards the Luxury tax.
Varsho is projected to earn $9.7 million in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors, but Spotrac has him earning $11.3 million towards actual payroll and luxury tax (I’ve used this number throughout the article). García earns $7.5 million in payroll, the same number toward the Jays’ luxury tax, while Lauer is projected to earn $4.4 million or $5.3 million (the latter being Spotrac).
Going with the Spotrac estimations, the Blue Jays will have $84.1 million come off the luxury tax payroll at the conclusion of the 2026 season and just under $87.3 million towards their actual payroll. If Berríos were to opt out, that’s an additional $19 million in actual payroll and about $18.7 million in luxury tax coming off the books. Opting out of Straw’s deal will clear the Jays another $7.4 million of actual payroll and $6.375 million towards the luxury tax.
That’s a whole lot of numbers I threw at you, and it’s just an estimation. But all of that is to say a lot of money is coming off the books at the conclusion of the 2026 season. Yeah, they’ll have to replace those players, but it’s not hard to see the Jays extending Varsho, while also re-signing Gausman and Springer to cheaper contracts. The farm system can replenish the other holes.
This doesn’t even mention next off-season’s free agent class. Realistically, Tarik Skubal is going to be the only superstar-calibre free agent next season, and there’s no guarantee he even reaches free agency. Going big this off-season is essentially going big for next off-season as well.
It’s simple: signing both Bichette and Tucker for the 2026 season will easily push them past the third tax threshold, meaning more taxes to pay. But it’ll be worth it with the money coming off the books. Add in the fact that next off-season doesn’t have a strong free agent class, and it’s easy to argue that the Blue Jays should go all-in this off-season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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