The Toronto Blue Jays are stuck in no man’s land with no discernible contract plan for their superstar on an expiring deal.
What is Toronto doing?
The Jays aren’t contenders right now (27-28 entering Thursday, eight games back in the American League East), and they’re confusing fans and analysts alike with their handling of Bo Bichette extensions talks (or lack thereof).
One of the baffled onlookers is FanSided’s Zachary Rotman, who put forth a bold Bichette take this week.
“If Bo Bichette isn’t extended, he should be traded,” Rotman wrote.
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“He’s slated to hit free agency at the end of the year, and there’s no hint of an extension coming.”
“The Blue Jays can re-sign him in free agency, but if they aren’t willing to extend him now, what makes anyone think they’ll outbid the field to keep him in Toronto long-term? They would receive a draft pick if he were to depart in free agency, but in no way would that be better than what the Jays can receive in a potential trade.”
“Bichette hasn’t had an All-Star-caliber season, but he’s bounced back following his abysmal 2024 campaign. He’s slashing .270/.319/.391 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 54 games.”
“If an extension isn’t coming and the Jays aren’t competing, Bichette should be traded. Yes, it’d hurt, and it might impact their odds of bringing him back as a free agent, but they can’t afford to take the risk of watching him leave for just a draft pick. They were able to avoid this fate with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and must do the same with Bichette.”
Bichette, 27, has been with the Blue Jays his entire career. Drafted at No. 66 overall in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, Bichette has made two All-Star teams in Toronto (2021, 2023) and been the American League hit leader twice (2021, 2022).
Blue Jays fans don’t want to see a player of Bichette’s star power wearing a different uniform, but that’s becoming a real possibility.
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