The Toronto Blue Jays recently extended Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a 14-year, $500 million deal. However, Bo Bichette is still slated to hit free agency after the season ends.
Bichette is one of the best shortstops in baseball and could have many suitors in free agency. He has not signed an extension yet, but FanSided’s Jesse Courville-Lynch predicts it’s only a matter of time until he inks a new deal with the Blue Jays.
“It’s simple, he’s going to re-sign with the Blue Jays at some point,” wrote Courville-Lynch. “All indications point toward Bichette wanting to return to the Blue Jays and remain in Toronto for his entire career, it’s just a matter of when he and the team sit down to finalize a new contract. It’s safe to assume that if he would generate tons of interest if he were to hit free agency, and would likely command a contract near $200 million.”
Bichette has led the American League in hits twice and is a two-time All-Star. He will earn a lucrative deal in free agency, but the Blue Jays just gave Guerrero $500 million and have not really shown they can be a winning team. Why would Bichette want to stay when he could get paid by a winning organization? The answer is Guerrero. Bichette has noted that his goal is to keep playing with his friend.
“When I had time to think about what I want, basically, my ultimate goal really is to play with Vladdy forever, to win a championship with him and to do that with this organization,” Bichette told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi before a rehab assignment last season. “I’m 100 percent committed to doing whatever it takes to accomplish those things. That’s where I’m at.”
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Bichette will be one of the hottest names on the market if he hits free agency. However, his desire to play with Guerrero will make the Blue Jays a favorite to land him if he hits the open market.
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