If the Toronto Blue Jays end up losing Bo Bichette this offseason, that would be devastating. He’s a homegrown All-Star and at just 27 years old can help lead this team into the future with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
But Bichette is a free agent and he’s out there for the taking for any team to go after. Bichette has made it clear that he’s interested in returning to Toronto. He said it publicly a few different times throughout the World Series. What if a return doesn’t work out, though?
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun shared a Sunday column and the nugget that stood out was him saying that he has heard that Bichette has been “quietly saying” he would be interested in heading to New York if a deal with the Blue Jays doesn’t work out.
“Bichette told everyone who would listen that he wants to stay a Blue Jay as free agency approaches,” Simmons wrote. “He wants to continue his World Series quest with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He said that publicly while quietly telling some people he wouldn’t mind playing in New York in the future. The immediate future. So, maybe he stays. Or, maybe he doesn’t. Or, maybe he already knows where he wants to be.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 01: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after hitting a three-run home run against Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Lo… | Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
“The Blue Jays are taking the soft approach here. They’re letting Bichette walk to free agency. They are, in their words, respecting the free agency he has earned over time. That’s wonderful of them. But being wonderful should never be part of free agency. If they want Bichette and he wants them, sign him now. To play polite footsie with him over the coming months is foolhardy.”
Losing Bichette would be rough. Losing him to the American League East rival New York Yankees would be the worst-case scenario.
