Just a few months ago, it seemed like the Toronto Blue Jays‘ season was over, and that star infielder Bo Bichette would be leaving in free agency.
Fast forward to September, and the Blue Jays are still in first place in the American League East, despite a 5-5 record over their last 10 games. Bichette has continued to swing the bat at a very high level to make matters even better for the organization, leading the American League with 176 hits.
If Bichette stays on this pace, he’ll finish with the most hits in the AL for the third time in the past five years.
Will Bo Bichette Remain in Toronto Past This Season?
Despite how well Bichette has played for the Toronto Blue Jays throughout his seven years with the organization, some still question whether he’ll stay with the team.
When predicting what might happen with Bichette, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicted that he’d stay in Toronto, adding that despite the questions in the past, they’ve struggled to attract top free agents, which has to be a factor for the organization.
“The Blue Jays retained Bichette last offseason when many thought they should blow up their core. He’s rewarded them by rebounding from a disappointing 2024 season and leading the league in hits for a team that looks like a World Series contender…
“The Blue Jays have struggled to attract free agents in recent years but remain aggressive spenders, and they will do what it takes to re-sign Bichette,” he wrote.
Why Bo Bichette Could Stay With Blue Jays?
Not having a clear replacement for Bichette makes things interesting for the Toronto Blue Jays. Of course, they could go out on the free agency market or attempt to make a trade for a shortstop, but why do that when they can pay somebody like Bichette $150-plus million and know that they have an above-average player on the roster for the next five-plus years.
Bichette should lock in a long-term contract if he’s willing. Christopher Kline of FanSided believes that’s one of the reasons why Bichette could stay in Toronto for the foreseeable term.
Barring anything drastic happening, that’s the likeliest outcome unless he wants to leave Toronto or the next few weeks to months, and just don’t go as planned.
“This time last season, it felt like Bichette was already halfway out the door in Toronto. He was in the middle of his worst individual campaign to date and there were reports of his discontentment in the clubhouse. Now that all feels like water under the bridge. Bichette is back in the saddle, the Blue Jays are the best team in the American League record-wise and Bichette has expressed his desire to finish his career next to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who inked a long-term extension last winter.
“Toronto does not have a clear replacement on the roster. Bichette is incredibly valuable to the heart of this Blue Jays lineup. Not only does he boast arguably the best bat-to-ball skills in MLB, but Bichette can ratchet up the power on occasion and, while he’s struggled mightily at shortstop this season, he at least brings a track record at a premium position. Those folks are hard to come by, especially in the primes of their career,” Kline wrote.
Blue Jays ‘Will Do What it Takes’ to Keep Bo Bichette Around, Per MLB Writer