The World Series just ended. The Toronto Blue Jays just finished playing 208 games, from Feb, 22 through Nov. 1. It was a marathon that started with a spring training game against the Yankees in Dunedin, Fla., and ended in Toronto with heartbreak after 11 innings in Game 7 of the World Series. It was a grind that feels even worse because the team came up just short of a championship.
As the Jays and their fans move further away from the devastation of the end of the 2025 season, they will be able to reflect back on the joys and successes of the year.
Okay, now stop. That is all the time you get to enjoy 2025. The 2026 season starts in fewer than 100 days, so it’s time to start ramping up for next year.
The Blue Jays’ biggest off-season priority is Bo Bichette. He has been an important factor in the organization since July 29, 2019, when he debuted as the 21-year-old shortstop of the future. In his time as a Blue Jay, he has hit .294/.337/.469 with 111 homers, 438 runs scored and 437 RBI. He led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022, and was on his way to doing it again in 2025 before he injured his knee in a Sept. 6 game against the Yankees.
Bichette is a pure hitter. He has been 21 per cent better than the average (121 OPS+) player in his career. He showed just how good he is at the plate by coming off the injured list for the World Series after missing six weeks and hitting .344/.444/.478.
His acceptance that he wasn’t able to play shortstop, being as hobbled as he was, made a statement that has not gone unnoticed by interested teams. Clubs with needs at shortstop, second base and third base are all intrigued by Bichette. He’s not a great defender at shortstop, based upon both the eye test and the analytics. He is much better suited for second or third base.
The Jays have made it clear that they want to bring Bichette back, and he has made his willingness to come back quite clear as well. But if the Blue Jays expect him to return for less money than others are willing to offer, a so-called “hometown discount,” they will lose him. After free-agent slugging outfielder Kyle Tucker, Bichette will receive the biggest payday this off-season.
Here’s a look at the other teams I expect to be involved in the Bichette discussion:
Boston Red Sox: Third baseman Alex Bregman opted out, so if he goes elsewhere I could see the Red Sox pursuing Bichette. With the money Boston freed up after the Rafael Devers trade last season, they could sign Bregman for third base and Bichette to play second.
Detroit Tigers: Detroit has holes and flexibility at shortstop, third base, and second base. They have interest in Bregman, but Bichette could factor in there as well to satisfy their infield needs. If Detroit trades Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal because they realize they can’t sign him, it would free up money to chase both infielders.
Kansas City Royals: They desperately need offence and Bichette’s approach suits their style of play. They have one of the best shortstops in the game in Bobby Witt, but they could play Bichette at second or third. It would take a big bump in the Royals payroll to make it work, but ownership might be able to be convinced to go for it.
Seattle Mariners: Seattle has lost first baseman Josh Naylor, second baseman Jorge Polanco and third baseman Eugenio Suarez to free agency. They have a spot and the money available for Bichette.
Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies need to change their energy as they keep coming up short and Bichette could do that. President Dave Dombrowski likes stars. He could sign Bichette to play second or third and trade Alec Bohm (3B) or Bryson Stott (2B).
New York Mets: The Mets have a bunch of infielders but they could sign Bichette to play second base and then trade from a position of surplus to acquire the pitching they need. Never count the Mets out.
Atlanta Braves: Former Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos drafted Bichette and he has a need at shortstop in Atlanta. That should strike fear in Jays fans. Atlanta has second baseman Ozzie Albies under contract for two more seasons, at which point they could shift Bichette to second base. The only good news is that the Braves, under Anthopoulos, have not been big players in free agency.
Los Angeles Dodgers: They can’t be considered uninvolved on any star free-agent player. They have so much versatility on their roster that they can move players around to make new additions work. They could sign Bichette for second base and move Tommy Edman to the outfield.
San Francisco Giants: The acquisition of Rafael Devers and his big contract may limit their ability to add more payroll. The Giants could use an offensive upgrade and have a hole at second base but they also need more starting pitching and have to rebuild their bullpen.
As you can see, the competition will be significant for Bichette. The Jays will have to be aggressive and should try to push him for a quick decision. The longer it goes, the more aggressive teams will become. The clubs that lose out on Tucker may be willing to put more money toward Bichette. If teams don’t get the premium pitcher they want, they may shift to adding more offence.
There are two third basemen (Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto) being posted from Japan who have to sign deals before the new year. The losers in those sweepstakes could also pivot to Bichette and run the price higher.
What will the contract look like?
The deal for Bichette will be made larger because of its length. He will play next season at the age of 28, which means a deal for more than 10 years is very possible.
I’ve heard analysts use the Willy Adames deal with the Giants of seven years $182 million and Dansby Swanson’s seven-year $177 million deal with the Cubs as comps for Bichette’s market. Adames and Swanson were 29 when they made their deals, so Bichette can expect a longer deal as he is both younger and better than those two players.
It will likely take a 10-year contract for $250 million for the Jays to bring Bichette back. If they have to assure him to play shortstop for a few more years, then so be it. If he’s willing to move to second base immediately, even better.
If the Jays can’t re-sign Bichette, then they should focus on Tucker, although the star outfielder may command as much as $400 million. With Tucker in the fold they could move Addison Barger to third base and Ernie Clement to second.
Bregman would be a nice alternative to Bichette as well. He is a bit older – 32 – so he won’t get as many years as Bichette, but he could get five years at $160 million. Clement would move to second in this situation. Bregman would bring elite defence at third base and quality offensive production.
A less expensive option would be Suarez, 34, who has serious power (49 homers with the Mariners and Diamondbacks in 2025), but he does strikeout more than the Jays may prefer. He will cost in the vicinity of three years at $52 million.
The most intriguing option is Murakami, a third baseman who was recently posted from Japan. He is a left-handed hitting slugger who holds the single-season home run record there. He is only 26 and has a chance to be a legitimate run producer in MLB. He has some swing and miss, but his age and power are very enticing. Murakami will likely get a contract around eight years and $140 million, plus a significant posting fee.
The Jays priority is Bichette, as it should be, but there are a myriad of alternatives to replace him if he goes elsewhere.
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