Bo Bichette finally explains Toronto Blue Jays talks that never became a deal

On Wednesday in New York, Bichette admitted Toronto stayed in contact all offseason and showed interest. He also said it became clear he needed to choose a different path.

That line tells you the talks were real, but not close enough to feel inevitable. It also hints the Jays never found the final mix of term, role, and trust that a franchise shortstop expects.

Toronto had leverage in emotion, fans wanted the core to stay intact after the World Series run. Bichette had leverage in production, because a right-handed bat like his is hard to replace in one winter.

As a fan watching this, it feels like the front office tried to be logical, while the clubhouse story needed a louder commitment.

Instead, he landed in Queens on a three-year, $126 million deal that includes player options after 2027 and 2028, plus a massive signing bonus structure. That kind of flexibility screams, I want winning now and control later.

For the Blue Jays, the impact is immediate, the lineup loses a steady righty who could carry an inning without needing three true outcomes. The front office has to turn that money into two or three solutions, not one replacement.

My opinion is the Jays misread the emotional part of this negotiation, not just the dollars. The next milestone is simple, whatever Toronto builds for April has to prove the team is still a real contender.