Former teammate reveals Bo Bichette's tension with Blue Jays coaching staff and front office

Six days ago, Toronto's long «Vladdy and Bo» chapter officially closed when Bichette agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets.

For a fan base chasing one more October run, it feels like losing a familiar heartbeat.

What makes it sting is that the goodbye came right after his biggest Toronto moment, that Game 7 three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani that briefly flipped the whole country's mood. You can argue about roster building, you can't argue about that swing.

During a recent interview, Merrifield revealed that Bichette had some trouble with the coaching staff and front office during his time in Toronto.

Merrifield stated that Bichette loves the Blue Jays and the city of Toronto but that these issues with the coaches and management tainted the relationship with the team.

If you're a Jays fan, you heard «Bo» and assumed the story would keep going, and that's the gut punch right there. Merrifield, speaking on «6ix Inning Stretch,» called Bichette the type driven by winning, not the size of the contract.

That matters because Merrifield has lived the grind, he's 36, he was a ninth-round Royals pick, and he's seen stars handle pressure in a lot of clubhouses. When a teammate says the work ethic won't bend, I tend to believe it.

The ripple for Toronto is straightforward, the Jays can't count on vibes to cover missing contact and extra-base damage. MLB.com already framed it plainly, the offseason has been active, but another bat still needs to land for 2026 to feel finished.

My read is the bigger lesson is trust, keep the room aligned, keep your best players feeling seen, and don't let business turn personal.