The Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in the middle of a significant decision this offseason: Do they go with Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette? While many Blue Jays fans would like to see Toronto grab both, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Bichette is a homegrown talent who came up through Toronto’s farm system. As a result, the Blue Jays know him well and should have a clearer idea of whether the infielder can play shortstop long term or require a positional change.
Meanwhile, Tucker would replace Bichette’s bat should the Blue Jays go this route and have their right fielder for the foreseeable future in the contending window of the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. era. So, who should Toronto pick between the two players? Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz believes that the answer is Tucker.
“I think the value of Kyle Tucker added to this lineup outweighs the value of Bo Bichette because once the money’s paid, once we’re over the luxury tax, under the luxury tax, all you have is the product out on the field,” Kratz said on the January 2 edition of “Foul Territory.” “Kyle Tucker will be a better offensive player if both players stay healthy. It’s apples to apples. He’ll be a better offensive contributor to this lineup.”
Kyle Tucker Makes the Blue Jays Defensively Better
Moreover, when it comes to Toronto filling out its defensive scheme, Tucker allows Blue Jays manager John Schneider more flexibility around the infield.
“I also think it makes this lineup and this defensive configuration that the team could put out there a better defense and overall team,” Kratz added. “If you bring Bo back, we talked about before, does he play second base? And if he does, that’s fine, but now you’re running Ernie Clement at third, more of an offensive position.
“If you would have [Addison] Barger at third, now you’re talking about more power at third and played well. Barger wouldn’t have to go to right. [Anthony] Santander’s locking down the DH. So, there’s a lot of pieces that move. And I think just, if you’re going player to player, not worrying about the money, Kyle Tucker is the route the Blue Jays should go because he doesn’t need to be the superstar.”
Blue Jays Would Be Willing to Spend Big on Kyle Tucker
Another reason Tucker could head north of the border is that the Blue Jays might be the team that gives the free-agent hitter the money his camp is looking for, at least that’s what “Foul Territory” co-host Scott Braun believes.
“Part of why I think he’ll land in Toronto is that I think they have the best offer out or the best idea of an offer, right?” Braun said in the same segment. “… I don’t know who else is offering that level of cash to Kyle Tucker. We don’t even know what the money is.
“I just think that the Blue Jays are going to offer more if they seriously are interested in Kyle Tucker. Name another team that you think is going to play ball at the—I don’t know, let’s just say 300 million plus range, 350, whatever it is. It doesn’t sound like it’s the Yankees.”
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