The Toronto Blue Jays have been the biggest spenders this MLB offseason — by a lot. Their total spend of $337 million tops the next closest competitor by a whopping $142 million, as Bob Nightingale of USA Today reported Wednesday.
To put the Blue Jays’ financial commitments in perspective, in 2025 12 major league teams had total payrolls that came in under $142 million.
And by most indications, CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins are not done yet.
Jays ‘Increased Efforts’ to Land Kyle Tucker
According to a report by Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, the Blue Jays “have increased their efforts to recruit (Kyle) Tucker, who remains a roster fit after the signing of Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto.”
Tucker, of course, is the highest-profile free agent hitter still on the market, and one whose price tag has been estimated to run over $400 million.
With other cash-flush teams such as the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers also reportedly chasing Tucker, the Blue Jays may need to make a decision soon on whether to continue their chase of the 29-year-old four-time All-Star.
But there is another outfielder who could play an important role in the Blue Jays future, and Toronto is virtually certain to sign him at a much lower cost.
New Signing is Top 30 IFA Prospect
January 15 marks the opening of the 11-month period in which international free agents are eligible to be signed by MLB organizations. Most of the top prospects have, in fact, already reached agreements with the teams that plan to sign them, and next Thursday is the day those signings become official.
According to baseball journalist Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, on January 15 the Blue Jays will sign 17-year-old outfielder Michael Mesa, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitter from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — the same hometown that has given rise to Hall of Famers David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Adrian Beltre and likely future Hall of Famer Juan Soto.
Romero reported that Mesa is set to receive a signing bonus of $900,000, out of the total Blue Jays international bonus pool of $5.94 million.
MLB Pipeline ranks Mesa No. 30 out of all international prospects in the incoming class of 2026.
Mesa Called ‘No Doubt Outfielder’
“A left-handed thrower, Mesa is a no-doubt outfielder as he gets his pro career underway,” MLB Pipeline’s scouting report on Mesa reads. “He takes solid routes to the ball and should have at least an average throwing arm in time, but he’s likely to be bumped to a corner outfield spot as his physical frame fills out.”
As a hitter, the teenage prospect “could wind up being its best hitter in the ‘26 class,” the scouting report says. “He’s known as a hard worker away from the field, one who maximizes his already considerable skill set.”
The Pipeline report goes on to say that “Mesa makes a ton of hard contact. … Mesa showcases the type of “whippy” swing that evaluators often think could lead to even more extra-base prowess as he continues to refine his approach.”
Mesa will be looking to follow last year’s international signing Juan Sanchez, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic who received a signing bonus of $997,500, and in just one season in the Dominican Summer League has already risen to become Pipeline‘s No. 18 prospect in the Blue Jays system.
Blue Jays to Add ‘No-Doubt’ OF for $900K as Big-Money Tucker Decision Nears