“I’m not sure Kyle Tucker wanted to go to Toronto.” 

As has too often been the case in years past, the Toronto Blue Jays found themselves on the wrong side of the spectrum in the pursuit of a high-quality free agent last night (Thursday), as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the Kyle Tucker derby.

Were the Blue Jays once again used to up the ante?

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You'd think so, especially given the latest comments from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He said after the star outfielder's signing that he wasn't sure Tucker wanted to go to Toronto.

I'm not sure he wanted a long-term deal. I'm not sure he wanted to go to Toronto. Toronto is a much better destination than it has been in recent years. In fact, every player they've missed out on has been because of the circumstances in each case.

That makes sense, because if he'd wanted to, Tucker could have signed with the Jays a long time ago. World Series participation and the Jays' 2025 run will therefore have changed nothing in Tucker's case.

We saw the Blue Jays spend more than any other team this winter, $337 million in total with their four free agent signings, including, of course, Dylan Cease at the top of that. So, free agents really want to go there. That doesn't mean they all want to go. And it doesn't mean, in Kyle Tucker's case, that he wanted to sign long-term there. So, if his preference was short-term on waivers, that's what he got.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel agrees, saying that sources in the industry were skeptical that Tucker wanted to play in Toronto.

https://twitter.com/Damon98_/status/2012025523774603386

The Jays will have to find other ways to improve, because right now, they don't have a better club than the one that made it to the World Series last year.

And with Bo Bichette now in New York, he's no longer an option.

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