The Toronto Blue Jays are 25-27 and seven games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East. They may not be sellers at the deadline, but they could lose a key player in free agency.
Bo Bichette is in the final year of his three-year, $33 million extension. The Blue Jays may not be able to afford him after this season since they just committed $500 million to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bichette could demand a $200 million deal in free agency, and FanSided’s Baron Dionis thinks the Detroit Tigers could sign him as a free agent.
Bichette is hitting .275/.319/.396. His average is significantly better than his down season in 2024. He is a two-time All-Star and has led the American League in hits twice. However, his power numbers are down. However, he is swinging the bat well.
“He is back to hitting the ball hard (50% hard-hit rate; 84th percentile), which has translated to an average exit velocity of 91.1 miles per hour,” wrote Dionis. “That, coupled with his high expected batting average percentile, shows that there’s still plenty of production left in his bat.”
The Tigers currently have Trey Sweeney as their shortstop, but Bichette would be an upgrade. Sweeney, 25, could then become a trade chip or change positions to compensate for potential roster turnover.
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If the Blue Jays think Bichette will leave in free agency, they need to consider trading him. However, the team may not be inclined to punt on the season and waste another year of Guerrero’s career.
“While he’s only a rental, the Blue Jays could still get a big return from him,” wrote Dionis. “The Blue Jays shouldn’t do that if they’re in the postseason race, however. Bichette is a valuable asset to this organization, and is a key cog in their lineup. While losing Bichette for nothing in free agency is a possibility, it’s a gamble the Blue Jays need to take.”
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