New update on the Toronto Blue Jays contract extension with Bo Bichette
Photo credit: Cole Burston / Jays Journal
The Toronto Blue Jays continue to hold off on making what could be their most significant move of the upcoming offseason: re-signing star shortstop Bo Bichette to a contract extension.
Despite his importance to the franchise, there's been little progress on a new deal, leaving fans wondering how much longer the team can afford to wait.
Blue Jays continue to delay Bo Bichette extension.
Jose Alfonso Taboada from Jays Journal writes Bichette is entering the final year of his contract and is projected to become a free agent following the 2025 season.
After a disappointing 2024, the young shortstop has bounced back strongly, posting 13 home runs and 59 RBI's in 422 at-bats. His WAR currently stands at 2.0, ranking sixth highest on the Blue Jays roster.
"The Blue Jays locked up fan favorite Vladimir Guerrero Jr. back in April to a 14-year, $500 million extension, securing his future. Now the question pivots to Bo: Should the Blue Jays lock him up now?" -Taboada
It's clear that if the Blue Jays were in a worse spot or out of playoff contention, discussions about trading Bichette would have likely come up.
"Does it make sense now for a contender to trade away an expiring contract to another contender as a rental? Probably not. Bichette plays a vital role in the lineup, and it wouldn't make sense to disrupt the team's chemistry. For example, Bichette currently bats .386 with runners in scoring position, leading the team with at least 100 plate appearances." -Taboada
In simple terms, Bichette should have been signed long ago, much like the situation with Guerrero. As a homegrown talent drafted by Toronto in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, he's become a cornerstone for this era of Blue Jays baseball.
"A two-time All-Star, Bichette has already shown his potential for elite seasons, including a career-high 29 home runs in 2021. He's also received AL MVP votes between 2021 and 2023. Yes, his 2024 season was the worst of his career, thanks to a right calf strain and a broken finger. With Bichette finding his groove again at the plate in 2025, it can be a sure bet he'll eventually get back to his 2021-2023 self." -Taboada
Don't let this drag into free agency, it's time to get serious and start negotiating.
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