Dodgers signing of Kyle Tucker proves they are worried about the Blue Jays

The Los Angeles Dodgers once again upended the baseball world by signing Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract on a Friday in the middle of January. The Dodgers are the villains in baseball, but every fanbase probably wishes their team would act like the Dodgers.

They nabbed Tucker from the Blue Jays, who were prominently featured in rumors for the top free agent. The Dodgers nearly lost the World Series to the Blue Jays and they are now treating Toronto's baseball team like a massive threat to their dreams of a three-peat.

Dodgers signing of Kyle Tucker proves they are worried about the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have now been on the wrong side of the Dodgers' offseason maneuverings for three years in a row. Even if Toronto's reputation as a free agent destination is improving, the Tucker signing proves that money is still a huge factor and the Blue Jays must be careful about putting their eggs into one basket.

The Dodgers didn't have a dire need for an outfielder, but still signed Tucker in order to take him away from a budding rival on the opposite coast. They had Tommy Edman, Alex Call, and former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez along with Blue Jays killer Andy Pages poised to assume outfield duties next season. That's a passable collection of talent because of how absurdly talented the top of their lineup is.

None of that mattered for the Dodgers, who didn't hit much during the World Series. They won the whole thing despite getting outhit. The Dodgers then watched the Blue Jays fill out a rotation with reinforcements like Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. The bullpen also received plenty of strengthening with the signing of Tyler Rogers.

Good pitching can beat good hitting in the short sample space of October baseball. The Blue Jays only needed to sign the top hitter on the free agent market to cap off what had become a wildly successful offseason. Alas, that series of events did not happen.

The Blue Jays are still talented even if Tucker would have helped out the lineup in a major way. Not only that, Bo Bichette is now a New York Met, thus placing further pressure on the Blue Jays to find another offensive replacement.

All of this needs to occur as the team makes sure there is no regression in the lineup. Will George Springer keep up his torrid offensive output as he continues to age? Can Ernie Clement duplicate his fantastic season on both sides of the ball?

GM Ross Atkins probably needs to get uncomfortable and figure out what his next move will be. The baseball boss was deftly navigating the offseason in November and December, but now the tables are turning. This is the moment when Blue Jays fans will really see what Atkins is able to accomplish.

The Blue Jays aren't destined for a horrible season or another last place finish in the AL East. Losing another free agent to the Dodgers also shouldn't deter Toronto from engaging in similiar free agent pursuits in the future. At least the Blue Jays can learn valuable lessons and understand that the Dogers aren't going anywhere.