MLB Free Agency Rumors: Red Sox Enemy Pursuing Cubs’ Kyle Tucker

The rich are looking to get richer in the American League East, and no, we aren’t talking about the New York Yankees.

The news kids on the block to beat are the Toronto Blue Jays, who re-claimed the division title this year while on their way to winning the AL pennant and pushing the Los Angeles Dodgers to seven games in the World Series.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports the Blue Jays will use free agency to reload for another deep playoff run.

Ready To Reload

“The Jays have been linked to MLB’s consensus No. 1 free agent, all-around outfielder Kyle Tucker, despite no obvious need in the outfield, but pitching is their real requirement,” Heyman reported.

“They’re also eying a top closer and are seen as a potentially serious player for Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez or one of the other prime back-end bullpen pieces,” Heyman added.

According to Masslive.com’s Sean McAdam, Toronto’s willingness to spend big during Hot Stove season doesn’t bode well for the Red Sox.

Troubling Development

“There’s been further speculation that the Jays could be big players for outfielder Kyle Tucker, considered the best position player on this winter’s market,” McAdam wrote.

“All of which makes for an ominous development for the Red Sox. Blue Jays chairman Ted Rogers has decided to spend commensurate with the fact that his team occupies baseball’s sixth-bigger market, to say nothing of the fact that the Jays are the one MLB team with literally a national following,” McAdam said.

“Thus, the Red Sox face the real possibility that they’ll enter the 2026 season with not one but two division rivals willing to spend upwards of $300 million in payroll,” McAdam concluded.

As for the Yankees, they have been relatively quiet so far in free agency. Their only big move to date is outfielder Trent Grisham accepting the one-year qualifying offer.

New York’s prime target on the open market is outfielder Cody Bellinger but the Yankees remain linked to Tucker as well.

The 28-year-old Tucker is a four-time All-Star and could sign a $400 million deal in free agency.