Jim Bowden: “Too Much Risk” for Blue Jays to Sign Cody Bellinger
Despite missing out on Kyle Tucker, former GM Jim Bowden explains why the Blue Jays Cody Bellinger rumors likely won’t end in a long-term deal, citing major concerns over his swing mechanics and consistency.
TSP Rumor Tracker: Jan 19 Update
We are breaking down Jim Bowden’s appearance on Foul Territory where he addressed Toronto’s free agency strategy.
- The Stance: Blue Jays view Bellinger as “too much risk” for a 7-10 year deal.
- The Tucker Reveal: Bowden claims Toronto offered Kyle Tucker 10 Years, $350 Million before he chose the Dodgers.
- The Concern: Bellinger’s swing aging poorly and his history of being “dumped” by contenders.
Why are the Blue Jays Cody Bellinger rumors cooling off? According to former GM and MLB analyst Jim Bowden, it comes down to a single word: Risk. Speaking on the Foul Territory show, Bowden provided a blunt assessment of why Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro are hesitant to pivot to Bellinger after swinging for the fences on Kyle Tucker.
Bowden: “It’s the Risk With the Swing”
When asked directly why the Blue Jays are not “in” on Bellinger, Bowden pointed to the mechanics of the former MVP’s game.
“I think it’s the risk with how he’s going to age with the swing… I think Mark Shapiro, the president of the Blue Jays, Ross Atkins, the GM, [are] looking at his history and saying, ‘What is the risk?'” — Jim Bowden, Foul Territory
Bowden elaborated that while he loves Bellinger’s defense and power, the lack of consistency makes a long-term commitment dangerous. “I don’t want to get stuck on a 7, 8, 9, 10-year deal on a player that I don’t think I can count on producing,” Bowden stated.
The Bombshell: Jays Offered Tucker $350M
The most revealing part of the segment came when Bowden compared the Bellinger pursuit to the recently concluded Kyle Tucker sweepstakes. He dropped a massive figure regarding Toronto’s offer to the star outfielder.
“I would have been fine giving Kyle Tucker 10 years, $350 million like the Blue Jays offered… I kind of feel like Bellinger’s not that kind of player for me.” — Jim Bowden, Foul Territory
This confirms that Toronto was willing to go to extreme lengths—$110 million more than the Dodgers’ final offer—to land a player they viewed as a “safe” superstar. The fact that they won’t do the same for Bellinger speaks volumes about their internal evaluation of him.
Repeating History: The Cubs & Dodgers Failure
Bowden didn’t hold back on Bellinger’s track record, reminding viewers that two major franchises have already given up on him.
“We saw him fail in Chicago and a year ago the Cubs had to eat part of the contract in order to trade him to the Yankees… The Dodgers, he struggled there a couple years, they moved on from him.” — Jim Bowden, Foul Territory
TSP Analysis: Avoiding the Anchor
Bowden’s insight aligns with the “Blue Jays Way” under Shapiro. They pay for certainty (Springer, Gausman, Berrios). Bellinger’s career has been a rollercoaster of MVP highs and non-tender lows.
If the choice was between overpaying for Tucker’s consistency or Bellinger’s volatility, Toronto clearly preferred the former. Now that Tucker is gone, don’t expect them to panic-buy the latter.
For the full segment, watch Jim Bowden on Foul Territory.