The Blue Jays were willing to go to 10 years for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, but they fell far short on the average annual value that he ultimately received from the Dodgers.
Toronto’s offer to Tucker was for 10 years and $350 million, according to Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman, but the outfielder signed a shorter deal earlier this week with the two-time defending World Series champions for four years and $240 million.
That $60 million AAV, with a portion of the money deferred, also exceeded the Mets’ bid for Tucker of $220 million over four years, whic included a $75 million signing bonus.
The Mets, who pivoted and agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with ex-Toronto infielder Bo Bichette after missing out on Tucker, also lost All-Star closer Edwin Diaz to Los Angeles earlier in free agency.
The Blue Jays, who fell to the Dodgers in seven games in the 2025 World Series, added starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, former Mets reliever Tyler Rogers and Japanese third baseman
Kazuma Okamoto earlier this offseason.
If Tucker had accepted Toronto’s 10-year offer, it would have marked the second-largest contract in franchise history by both length and value, behind only the 14-year, $500 million extension Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed last April.
Elsewhere in the AL East, the Yankees endured a mostly quiet offseason until acquiring left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers earlier this week in a trade with the Marlins.
They are still negotiating with outfielder Cody Bellinger, with a gap in the five years the Yankees have offered and the seven the ex-MVP seeks.
The Red Sox have bolstered their rotation this winter with former All-Star pitchers Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez.
And the Orioles signed Pete Alonso away from the Mets, while also picking up outfielder Taylor Ward, starting pitcher Shane Baz and relievers Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittridge.