Reports have indicated in the past that the Detroit Tigers are interested in Bo Bichette. Whether the Tigers would actually give Bichette the money he’s looking for remains to be seen, as the shortstop is set to hit the free agency market at the end of the campaign.
With how well the Blue Jays have played for much of the year, in first place in the loaded American League East, there’s also a side of the story that suggests he could return.
According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Bichette will be the biggest priority in free agency for the Blue Jays, but he also noted that there are other avenues they have to pursue. For the Tigers, that could be good news if Bichette doesn’t get all of the money he’s looking for in Toronto.
“Bichette’s free agency will be the story of Toronto’s offseason until he signs. But the club’s biggest need is starting pitching. Bieber (player option), Scherzer and Bassitt are all set to hit the open market. Alek Manoah, Trey Yesavage, Bowden Francis and injury returnees such as Ricky Tiedemann and Jake Bloss could fill a couple of spots or provide needed depth. But the Jays will be involved in the rotation market, as well,” he wrote.
MORE: Tigers’ all-star predicted to sign with San Diego Padres following season
Now, for Detroit, it has to come down to what the organization is willing to pay him.
When examining how much Bichette could get in free agency, Spotrac predicted him to land an eight-year, $182.3 million deal. While that’s a lot of money for a team like the Tigers, given their unwillingness to spend over the past few years, that’s how much they’re going to have to pay a player of Bichette’s caliber.
The longtime Blue Jays shortstop is on pace to lead the American League in hits for the third time in his career.
