The New York Yankees entered the Winter Meetings knowing they needed a big bat. They also knew Kyle Tucker represented the cleanest, most complete solution on the free-agent market. But with each new update, the Yankees’ chances appear to be slipping further out of reach. The latest reporting makes that reality even harder to ignore.
According to NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch, the Yankees have quietly placed Tucker on the “back-burner,” convinced that the price tag is becoming too steep and that their odds may be better with Cody Bellinger instead. For a team that understands the stakes of this offseason, that shift signals more than a mere pivot in strategy—it signals doubt that New York can land the player many insiders view as the crown jewel of the winter.
And while the Yankees ease off the gas, another organization is stepping firmly on it.
Blue Jays Surge as Yankees Tap the Brakes
Tucker’s visit to the Toronto Blue Jays’ Dunedin complex last week has become the moment that reshaped this entire sweepstakes. MLB.com’s Brian Murphy reported that Toronto is “in hot pursuit” of Tucker, armed with both momentum and an increasingly aggressive front office. The Blue Jays didn’t just show Tucker their facility—they sent a message to the league that they intend to swing as big as necessary.
This is a franchise that chased Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, and Juan Soto in previous offseasons. They missed every time. Now, after landing Dylan Cease on a seven-year megadeal—arguably the top pitcher available—they see Tucker as the next logical step in a bid to return to the World Series.
Murphy went so far as to say that after the Cease deal, it would be “foolish to doubt their chances” of closing on Tucker. That statement alone should rattle the Yankees’ front office.
Momentum is not the Yankees’ friend right now. And it’s not just Murphy sounding the alarm.
ESPN’s Buster Olney noted that Tucker could be tempted to sign quickly if Toronto or another team makes an early, aggressive offer. Olney also reaffirmed what the industry has known for months: Tucker is a $400 million-plus player, with some projections—like The Athletic’s Jim Bowden—reaching $427 million over ten years.
That number appears to be precisely what’s giving the Yankees pause.
Yankees Survey the Market While Others Strike
As Jeff Passan detailed, the league has divided into three groups: teams ready to spend on a star bat (Phillies, Red Sox, Blue Jays), teams evaluating multiple paths (Yankees, Mets, Cubs), and those waiting for openings. New York is in the middle tier, watching the board carefully, but not acting with the urgency their rivals are showing.
Klapisch’s reporting reinforced this: the Yankees believe Tucker’s cost is ballooning and feel they have “a better shot” with Bellinger. That may be true, but it also means the Yankees risk letting a franchise-altering opportunity pass them by.
Tucker isn’t just another free agent. He’s a left-handed, power-speed, Gold Glove-caliber outfielder who has hit at least 22 home runs for five straight seasons. He’s entering his prime and he’s the type of player contenders sign to end championship droughts.
Letting that talent walk to a division rival would be catastrophic.
New York isn’t out yet. But at the moment, Toronto is surging, the price is rising, and the Yankees seem more hesitant than hungry.
For a franchise promising to get back to the top of the American League, hesitation may be the most dangerous move of all.
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