Bo Bichette remains one of the top free-agent hitters available, and the Toronto Blue Jays are still interested in bringing him back.
Bichette has been a key part of the Blue Jays roster for years, but his time with the team may be over. Toronto has been active this offseason, and there may not be room for Bichette in a crowded infield.
However, Animl Steakhouse – a luxurious Toronto restaurant – is taking matters into its own hands. The restaurant said Bichette will get free steaks for life if he re-signs in Toronto.
“Dear Bo Bichette. Toronto suits you,” the restaurant posted a letter on Instagram. “The city, the energy, the fans – it all feels right, much like a perfectly cooked steak. At Animl, we believe in commitments that last — the craft, the core, and the city we call home.
“In that spirit, we ask you to re-sign with the Toronto Blue Jays — and consider this our promise: Steaks for life on us. No negotiations. No fine print. Just a standing reservation at our table. Stay in Toronto. We’ll handle dinner, you bring home the hardware. Sincerely, Your favorite restaurant, Animl Steakhouse & Cocktail Den.”
Although it is an offer for free steak for life, it comes from a very special restaurant. During the summer, Bichette told CBC that Animl is his favorite restaurant in Toronto, so perhaps that could be enough to land him.
Bichette hit .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs last season.
Restaurant Explains Offer to Bichette
The offer from Animl is an intriguing one, and the restaurant explained why they decided to do it.
Speaking to CTV News Toronto, Charles Khabouth, CEO of INK Entertainment, which owns Animl, said the restaurant has enjoyed serving Bichette and wants to do whatever it takes to bring him back to Toronto.
“He’s really been one of the nicest people, a great gentleman with his wife and he stated in an interview that Animl was his favourite steakhouse in the city,” Khabouth said. “When I found out that he was looking at possibly signing with another team, I’m like, ‘Hey, listen, if we can add a couple of more points to make it more interesting to him and his wife and his fans’ …
“We put together this offer and we really mean it … he loves steak, so a perfect client, perfect host, perfect guest,” he said. “It might tip the scale a little bit. I think it’s not so much the steak as much as now he sees the amount of excitement from people in the city that want to him to stay here.”
The restaurant also said the offer stands for life, even if Bichette only re-signs on a short-term deal and goes elsewhere in the future.
Blue Jays Continue to Show Interest in Bichette
After Toronto signed Kazuma Okamoto, many thought that ruled out the team signing Bichette.
However, Blue Jays insider Mitch Bannon of The Athletic said Toronto remains interested in bringing back Bichette, even after signing Okamoto.
“The Jays will likely stay in touch with Bichette’s representatives as free agency remains fluid and plans evolve,” Bannon wrote. “Perhaps if Bichette elects to take a shorter deal with opt-outs, similar to the contracts signed by Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and Cody Bellinger in recent offseasons, the Jays could make things work for a year.”
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins, meanwhile, said the team has full support from ownership to spend.
Bo Bichette Gets Unique Offer to Return to Blue Jays Amidst Slow-Moving Market