If Bo Bichette Walks, the Blue Jays’ Front Office Faces a Defining Question: What’s Their Next Big Move? .MH
Does anyone have a backup plan for the apocalypse?
The Toronto Blue Jays appear to be the favorites to retain the services of Bo Bichette in free agency, but what if the worst-case scenario happens?
Even thinking about the idea of seeing Bichette in another uniform is gag-inducing for Blue Jays fans, but there’s at least 10 others MLB ballclubs that can afford the shortstop’s expensive new deal and have the desire to sign him (though, in fairness, every team would want to sign him if it could afford him).
Just in case he does choose another team over the Blue Jays in free agency, it’s important to prepare a few backup plans. And luckily, Jays Journal is here to offer free consultancy to Ross Atkins and company.
3 options to help Blue Jays to avert disaster if Bo Bichette leaves in free agency
The Dream Replacement: Kyle Tucker
The Blue Jays have actually been mentioned in a Tucker rumor or two this offseason, though this feels rather difficult to pull off.
First things first: Tucker is likely to be the only free agent who receives a larger contract than Bichette does this year. If the Blue Jays hesitate to pay their star $200 million, what’s to say they’ll feel comfortable giving an outside more than $300 million?
If they can look past that, though, Tucker may be one of few players in the sport who is legitimately better than Bichette. Even when accounting for his injury-driven second-half slump, he hit .266/.377/.464 (136 wRC+) with the Chicago Cubs in 2025, and he continues to possess some of the best plate discipline in the game (14.5% walk rate).
As a legitimate 30-30 threat when healthy and a Gold Glover in right field, Tucker has been worth at least 4.0 fWAR in every season since 2021. Even if it required a trade of Anthony Santander to pull off, Tucker would be an incredible fit next to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the middle of the lineup.
The Safe, Not Sorry Option: Alex Bregman
The Blue Jays were in Bregman’s market last year, and they figure to be there again this offseason.
Though a quad injury slowed him down, the two-time World Series champion hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs in 114 games with the Boston Red Sox, good for 3.5 fWAR and a 125 wRC+. He remains a sterling defender at the hot corner (three Outs Above Average, one Defensive Run Saved in 2025) and isn’t attached to a qualifying offer, unlike Tucker.
He’d seamlessly replace Bichette’s right-handed bat at the top of the order, and he would allow Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez, and Addison Barger to play in more optimal defensive options after having to cover for Bichette’s deficiencies at shortstop.
The Last Resort: Tarik Skubal
No, Tarik Skubal hasn’t suddenly learned how to play shortstop and hit .300 in the big leagues (though, if anyone could, it’s him).
Instead, he’d represent a complete paradigm shift in Toronto. Like David Price before him, the Detroit Tigers ace would move the focus to the Blue Jays’ pitching staff, which, despite the presence of Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage, is missing a lockdown, highest-echelon ace.
Skubal has won back-to-back Cy Young Awards and would cost a fortune in a trade and in an extension, seeing as he only has one year of team control remaining and possesses a 2.30 ERA since the start of the 2024 campaign.
Still, replacing Bichette’s impact on the offense would be almost impossible. Trying to mask it with one of the best pitching staffs in the American League wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
