Blue Jays Free Agency Sparks Big Question: Are They Quietly Planning a Future Without Bo Bichette? DD
Considering possible scenarios for the star shortstop as free agency looms large.
On a cold October night in Toronto, the Blue Jays finally gave their fans a moment worth waiting three decades for: a thrilling Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners to punch their ticket to the World Series. As bottles popped in a champagne-soaked locker room, reporters asked an injured Bo Bichette about his availability for the Fall Classic facing a Shohei Ohtani-led Dodgers team. His simple yet determined response was one that Blue Jays fans had been waiting to hear for months: “I’ll be back.“
Bichette’s fearsome reputation at the plate was known by all by then, as he was previously preparing to come back from a knee injury that cut his 2025 regular season campaign short. He had a stellar year by all accounts, collecting 181 hits with a .311/.357/.483 slashline in 139 games.
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On a cold October night in Toronto, the Blue Jays finally gave their fans a moment worth waiting three decades for: a thrilling Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners to punch their ticket to the World Series. As bottles popped in a champagne-soaked locker room, reporters asked an injured Bo Bichette about his availability for the Fall Classic facing a Shohei Ohtani-led Dodgers team. His simple yet determined response was one that Blue Jays fans had been waiting to hear for months: “I’ll be back.“
Bichette’s fearsome reputation at the plate was known by all by then, as he was previously preparing to come back from a knee injury that cut his 2025 regular season campaign short. He had a stellar year by all accounts, collecting 181 hits with a .311/.357/.483 slashline in 139 games.
When Toronto manager John Schneider made the trusting decision to put Bichette into the lineup, he responded by hitting .348 with 6 RBIs in a tightly contested (though not victorious) seven game series. Now, Bo enters the MLB free agent market as an unrestricted free agent, where Blue Jays fans are once again hoping for his return, and to avoid the regret that comes with losing such a talented player.
Blue Jays Free Agency: Is Toronto preparing for life without Bo Bichette?
With rumours already swirling around Bichette’s likely suitors, high-spending teams are ready to make their offers for Toronto’s shortstop. One thing remains clear, however: Bo will have these clubs ready to enter a bidding war to secure his level of offensive production. Since 2021, Bichette has tallied the seventh most hits in the Majors, offensive production that Toronto will want to retain in an era that is unquestionably dominated by the pitcher.
Crucially, signing Bichette gives the Blue Jays organization a clear sense of direction as they look to make another deep playoff push in 2026. He has been a revelation at the plate for Toronto since his debut in 2019, moving up through the team’s farm system alongside superstar teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Considering Bichette’s repeated desire to win a championship over the years, it seems only right he should achieve this with the organization he was drafted by.
Still, Toronto fans should take the business-like nature of this sport seriously and try to consider the worst case scenario — one where Bichette chooses to move on from a Blue Jays team that was at one point two outs away from a championship. In this scenario, the Blue Jays front office may already be too preoccupied in the pursuit of other roster needs — such as pitching talent — to indulge in an already sparce infielder market. Ross Atkins needs to make Bichette the right offer before the team is forced to turn to less desirable infield options and face a future without their star shortstop.
Toronto should initiate negotiations around the price of what teams like the Yankees are reported to be offering for Bo, namely an eight-year contract in the area of $180-200 million. Team ownership has been more than willing to reward their homegrown talent in the past, and are again tasked with repeating the job in the coming weeks. Bichette signing with Toronto will also set a good precedent for free agents who are considering moving north of the border this offseason.
With his return, Bo has the opportunity to finish his career in a place he’s wanted to be “since the beginning.” This is the point Atkins and the Blue Jays front office should try to emphasize during negotiations as they attempt to stave off competition in an ever-fierce market in free agency. If the organization plays its cards right , they will get to keep a franchise centerpiece under tabs while securing other additions for the future.
