Blue Jays could pivot off Kyle Tucker to sign Japanese slugger, per ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After losing in Game 7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 World Series, there’s reason to believe that the Toronto Blue Jays will do whatever it takes to ensure they have an opportunity to get back there next season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Blue Jays have one of the more interesting rosters in baseball, but they also proved a year ago that they can compete with anyone on any given day, and there’s something to be said about that.
With them giving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as big of a deal as they did, it also makes sense if they continue to go out and spend money to ensure they have an opportunity to win long-term.
One of the ways to do that would be by adding international talent, and according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, the Blue Jays could be in the mix for slugger Munetaka Murakami.
“The Yankees have a history of highly valuing exit velocity and age when it comes to acquiring players, so they're one of the rumored potential landing spots more because of their expected evaluation of Murakami, rather than needing power in the lineup from a corner position per se.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“The Chicago Cubs make sense, as Murakami would join an influx of young hitters (Matt Shaw, Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, Jonathon Long), while others either just entered free agency (Kyle Tucker) or are set to after next season (Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner). The Giants also make some sense, the Houston Astros could be a fit if they move Christian Walker's contract and the Toronto Blue Jays (if they don't land Tucker) could also be a landing spot,” he wrote.
As McDaniel touched on, there’s still a possibility the Blue Jays could be in the mix for Kyle Tucker and land him, but if that doesn’t happen, they’ll obviously have to pivot.
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