Blue Jays payroll reality shows why they're taking no prisoners ahead of 2026 season

How do you build upon your first World Series appearance in over 30 years? You add to your payroll like you've never added before. And just when you think you're done, you appear in all the rumors about spending even more! That's the situation the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in ahead of the 2026 season.

After the recent signing of Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays have spent over $330 million this offseason in new contracts and their projected payroll is approaching $300 million for the upcoming campaign. And according to MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand, they are also very much in the mix to get the guy who could command the largest salary this offseason.

Blue Jays payroll reality shows why they're taking no prisoners ahead of 2026 season

Feinsand says that the Blue Jays, as they have been all offseason, are tabbed as Tucker's most likely destination. Despite the moves they have made this offseason they could still use a proven left-handed hitter who owns a career .865 OPS and has hit 20+ home runs every season going back to 2021. But from the get-go it appeared as if the Blue Jays were going to have to dig really deep into their already deep pockets to get Tucker to sign on the dotted line.

Feinsand says that hasn't changed and the Blue Jays are more than prepared to take on Tucker's salary demands. He says, "Signing Tucker would surely push Toronto’s payroll – which is already around $300 million – toward a gaudy number to which few teams could relate. But the Blue Jays will have more than $70 million coming off the books after 2026 when George Springer, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Daulton Varsho are slated to become free agents, bringing the payroll back down considerably. Tucker, who turns 29 on Jan. 17, is believed to be seeking a long-term deal worth at least $300 million – possibly as much as $400 million – as he takes his first swing at free agency."

There are all kinds of options at play for the Blue Jays here. They could just go all in, spend that much on a long term deal and start making space for Tucker's locker in the clubhouse. They could also offer him a short-term "pillow contract" giving both the player and the team a clearly idea of their needs after a year or two. The one thing that makes it feel like it won't get done is if Tucker just straight up doesn't want to go to Toronto, preferring a different market with big pockets, such as the New York Mets or the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Regardless of where Tucker goes, the Blue Jays are right there to be a potential landing spot and the money they have already committed this offseason has to be opening the eyes of not just Tucker, but every other current and future free agent as a place that is willing to pay to get their guy.