The Blue Jays are fully committed to bringing Kyle Tucker to Toronto, and we can see that in the rumors. But when one player comes, it is ussually means that another player has to move, and with the Toronto Blue Jays having excess outfielders, GM Ross Atkins will have to make some tough decisions.

“Blue Jays may be forced to make heartbreaking trade of fan favorite outfielder,” said Jays Digest host Nick Gosse. “If they get Kyle Tucker, Nathan Lukes is almost surely going to be traded for a reliever.”

The Toronto Blue Jays have identified Kyle Tucker as their primary target to improve the outfield for 2026. Tucker, 28 years old, finished 2025 with the Chicago Cubs batting .266 with an average of .377, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 73 RBIs. His career totals include a .273 batting average with an .865 OPS, 147 home runs, and 490 RBIs over eight major league seasons.

Contract projections suggest a short-term deal between one year at $52 million or two years at $43 million per season could secure his services.

Bringing Tucker to Toronto creates depth concerns in a crowded outfield, putting several players’ spots at risk. Outfielders Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, Myles Straw, Joey Loperfido, Addison Barger, and Anthony Santander may face limited playing time. Nathan Lukes, who appeared in 135 games with a .255 average, 12 home runs, and 65 RBIs, is considered the most likely trade candidate.

Managing these roster adjustments is critical, as each player contributed significantly during the playoff run and 2025 season.

The potential trade of Nathan Lukes would be difficult for the team and fans, given his performance and versatility. He played 249 innings in left field, 214 in center, and 446 in right, contributing 11 defensive runs saved across all positions. Lukes makes contact, has some power, and defends well, providing flexibility for late-game situations and platoons.

Trading him could free space for Kyle Tucker while also allowing Toronto to strengthen their pitching or bullpen depth if necessary.

Securing Tucker would allow the Blue Jays to pair him with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and Daulton Varsho effectively.

Tucker’s left-handed bat complements Guerrero Jr., improving balance in the lineup and increasing postseason potential in 2026. With his addition, Toronto would maintain strong depth while maximizing offensive production across the corner outfield positions.

The decision to trade an established player like Lukes, though difficult, aligns with the organization’s goal of competing for a championship next season.

Toronto’s pursuit of Kyle Tucker makes intentions clear, and Ross Atkins knows sentiment survives math. Nathan Lukes represents heart and depth, but front offices usually trade comfort for leverage. If Tucker arrives, choices follow, and Varsho, Springer, and Guerrero Jr. understand how business sounds.

If Lukes is traded, who is the reliever the Blue Jays can bring in?

Everyone understands how this works, even if nobody enjoys admitting it out loud. When the Blue Jays chase something bigger, the bill eventually comes due somewhere else. Nathan Lukes happens to sit right at that uncomfortable intersection of value and timing, where Ross Atkins usually starts dialing bullpen numbers.

Toronto’s bullpen options now center on Hunter Harvey, Danny Coulombe, and Michael Kopech entering 2026. Harvey posted sub-3.00 ERAs in 2022 and 2023, then a 0.00 ERA in the 2025 season. His projected contract sits near 1 year, 5 million, reflecting injury risk and late-inning experience. That balance fits a club needing flexibility while preserving leverage for deadline adjustments and later moves.

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Coulombe addresses the left-handed gap, holding lefties to a .233 average across 568 career plate appearances. Since 2021, he has a 2.64 ERA, 156 ERA+, and 175 strikeouts in 170.2 innings. Industry projections place his value around 2 years, 12 million, matching age and consistent results. That reliability eases pressure on younger relievers during tight games, and fans feel it inning by inning.

Kopech offers the highest ceiling, averaging a strikeout per inning with a 1.13 ERA in 2024. He added 6 saves that stretch and helped Los Angeles secure a World Series title. Injuries limited him to 14 appearances in 2025, though he still posted a 2.45 ERA. Projected near 1 year, 9 million, Kopech represents upside without long-term payroll strain for Toronto.

If Nathan Lukes moves, Ross Atkins is clearly signaling that bullpen leverage matters more than roster sentiment. Hunter Harvey, Danny Coulombe, or Michael Kopech fit that logic, each aligning cost control with situational urgency. The Blue Jays will not call it ruthless, but bullpen math usually writes the final answer.