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The Toronto Blue Jays opted to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a massive contract extension this year, but they didn’t land a deal with Bo Bichette.
A few months later, Bichette is one of the better infielders in all of baseball, and he’s primed to sign a massive contract in free agency at the end of the season.
MLB’s Mark Feinsand recently listed the Blue Jays as one of the top landing spots for Bichette in free agency this winter, but they will have quite a lot of competition in retaining their star.
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“After leading the AL in hits in 2021 and ’22 and making his second career All-Star team in 2023, Bichette had a nightmarish 2024, playing in only 81 games — and unproductive ones, at that,” Feinsand wrote. “This year, Bichette has looked like his old self, once again leading the American League in hits while hitting 16 homers with 82 RBIs and an .805 OPS in 125 games. The shortstop market will be thin this winter, putting Bichette in position to score big in his first foray into free agency.”
Bichette’s down year in 2024 likely caused him not to land a contract extension last offseason. It might have been Bichette not wanting to sign a big contract at a low point in his career, but it also could have been the Blue Jays not wanting to commit a lot of money to a struggling infielder.
Now, the Blue Jays will likely need to cough up well over $100 million to sign Bichette. But with the way that he’s played in every season of his big league career, besides last year, it would be well worth it.
The Blue Jays can’t afford to lose their star shortstop in free agency.
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