ESPN analyst’s split on Blue Jays’ Winter Meetings target

The Toronto Blue Jays have already been aggressive in the free agent market this offseason and with the Winter Meetings under way, it's anybody's guess as to what their next move will be. Some think they'll continue to be the front runners and land another top free agent, while others think they'll sit back and let the market develop a little before taking their next big swing.

A couple of ESPN analyst's held those opinions on the Blue Jays when it came to one free agent in particular, the consensus biggest free agent on the market, Kyle Tucker.

ESPN analyst’s split on Blue Jays’ Winter Meetings target

Buster Olney and Jeff Passan both recently gave their takes on the situation, when asked which top free agent hitter was most likely to sign during the winter meetings. Olney says it could be the Blue Jays getting Tucker early on in the proceedings. He says, " Kyle Tucker has been projected as a $400 million-plus player, but it might behoove him to move quickly if he gets an early, aggressive bid from the Jays (or some other team). This is not a winter in which you want to be waiting for the big offers to materialize, as they did for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in past offseasons."

Passan responded by saying he doesn't think Tucker will be the first to sign. In fact Passan says it might be a while before anything really moves significantly on the Tucker front. He says, "Schwarber is the best bet. Tucker isn't close to done yet. Cody Bellinger has a healthy market but is biding his time. Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette are world-class infielders with ample, moneyed suitors. Pete Alonso's signing could go down after Schwarber.

What's clear is that there's a group of teams that will spend on a big bat (Phillies, Red Sox, Blue Jays), a number surveying multiple options (Yankees, Mets, Cubs) and a handful that would do so opportunistically (Orioles, Tigers, Reds, Pirates). Others could emerge depending on how the market plays out and what trade possibilities emerge."

Both analyst agree that the Blue Jays are very much in the market for the services of Tucker and that isn't likely to change during the Winter Meetings. What makes this so interesting to watch is that everyone remembers the outcome of the last two offseasons in which the Blue Jays were also in the market for the big name bat, but came up short.

They weren't able to get Shohei Ohtani. They weren't able to get Juan Soto. But already this offseason they got the guy they wanted in the pitching department, by flexing some of their financial muscles and landing Dylan Cease. And whether the insiders think the market will move fast, or move slow, they all think that the Blue Jays will be right in the thick of it, until a signing is actually announced.