The Toronto Blue Jays have received some exciting news amid the MLB winter free agency storm: star shortstop Bo Bichette is poised to re-sign with the team that drafted him in 2016. The news, first reported by MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, boosts the Canadian team’s hopes that one of its most important bases will stick around.
The 28-year-old Bichette is a two-time All-Star and recently turned down the Blue Jays’ $22.05 million qualifying offer to try his hand at the independent market. However, multiple inside sources say he’d love to stay in Toronto, alongside longtime teammate and friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The superstar combination has been a boon for the Blue Jays in recent seasons, and a new contract would solidify the team’s bid for the next World Series.
Bichette’s 2025 season was a banner one: .311 AVG, 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and a thrilling three-run home run in Game 7 of the World Series. That makes him the hottest name on the independent market, with his contract projected to rise to eight years, $212 million, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic. While there are still defensive concerns at shortstop—Bichette is at the bottom of the Fielding Run Value chart—his stellar hitting ability and .840 OPS make him an irreplaceable pillar for the Blue Jays.
Bichette’s return would help Toronto maintain a core that was already being strengthened after signing Dylan to a $210 million contract. Coaches and experts say keeping Bichette would not only avoid losing a compensatory draft pick, but also help the Blue Jays maintain their depth in the team, preparing for the new season with World Series ambitions.
One of the interesting points in the rebirth scenario is the possibility of Bichette moving to second base. This would help the team arrange internal flexibility, create opportunities for Ernie Clement or Addison Barger to contribute and optimize the strength of the lineup. A source close to the team said: “Bo still wants to stay with the Blue Jays, and the team is also willing to do everything to make him feel at home. His position change is a negotiable thing that benefits both sides.”
Fans have reacted strongly on social media: from excitement, hope to even mental pressure on the management. One prominent tweet read:
“Keeping Bo Bichette is a must — he’s the heart of the team. Losing him would make all the 2025 season worthless.”
For Bichette, this is a career-defining moment: stay with the team that nurtured him from the start, or move out into a self-made market with financial and reputational potential. But all signs point to his heart still being in Toronto.
With all that going on, MLB is waiting for a historic decision: will the Blue Jays retain their core, or see an architecture in the team’s youngest stars depart? The answer will shape the Toronto venture for years to come and could change the face of the AL East.
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