Toronto Blue Jays Bo Bichette is having a serious contract problem
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Blue Jays' star shortstop Bo Bichette's decline in power could end up costing him a $200 million payday someday.
In the end, Bichette's drop in power is likely to hurt his value as he approaches the end of his final year of arbitration eligibility.
Bo Bichette under a lot of pressure in Toronto for lack of production this season.
Peter Chawaga from Newsweek writes that the Toronto Blue Jays have made efforts to bolster their lineup with more power hitters to support Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Before Opening Day, the Blue Jays made bold moves to inject power into their lineup, trading for Andrés Giménez, who launched three home runs in his first five games, and signing Anthony Santander, fresh off a 44-homer campaign with the Orioles.
"Once seen as a promising franchise cornerstone alongside Guerrero, Bichette has suffered a dramatic drop off in his power from the plate. In a three-season stretch from 2021 to 2023 that earned him consecutive Most Valuable Player Award votes and two All-Star nods, Bichette slugged at least 20 homers with slugging percentages well above .450." -Chawaga
Since then, something has been off. In a harsh 2024, he managed just a .322 slugging percentage with only four home runs. The struggles have continued into 2025, where he's slugging just .384 with a lone homer to his name.
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that Bichette's stock value is likely to drop if he continues his poor play.
"Two years ago, Bichette looked like a lock for $300 million. A brutal 2024 soured his stock, and while his average has climbed early this season, the power he showed in three consecutive 20-plus-homer seasons remains AWOL." -Passan
Instead, Passan projects that Bichette will now top out around a $100 million contract. While still a significant deal, it's a far cry from the potential $300 million territory he might have entered had he maintained his early-career production and power trajectory. A $200 million swing serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in MLB.
"He also could opt for a short-term deal with opt-outs to maximize his opportunities to hit the market after a strong season." -Passan
In the end, that might be the best path for Bichette. If he can regain his confidence and show that his power has fully returned, he'd likely position himself for a much more lucrative contract.
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