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Bo Bichette has openly expressed his interest in coming back to Toronto, repeating it several times throughout the World Series. He anchored the top of the lineup all season, even gutting it out through WS while dealing with a tough injury. But what if Toronto ends up losing its 27-year-old homegrown star anyway? That would be a major blow, especially if the landing spot is an AL East rival. In his Sunday column, Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun mentioned that he’s heard Bo Bichette has been “quietly saying” he’d be open to heading to New York if things don’t work out with the Blue Jays. “Bichette told everyone who would listen that he wants to stay a Blue Jay as free agency approaches. He wants to continue his quest with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He said that publicly while quietly telling some people he wouldn’t mind playing in New York in the future. The immediate future.” Simmons noted. Right after the WS, Bichette shared, “I wish we [he & Vladdy] could have won it together.” Even Guerrero Jr. himself wants to continue with his “best friend.” “I would love to finish my career playing with him.” Meanwhile, the Yankees clearly need a substantial boost at shortstop, given how uncertain Anthony Volpe’s role will be next season. On the other hand, the Blue Jays are playing it gently with Bichette, letting him head into free agency. They call it “respecting” what he’s earned. Much like what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said after WS. “But it’s free agency, so he’s got to do his thing to go and do what he has to do to get his money.” Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports “But free agency isn’t about courtesy. If they want Bichette and he wants them, sign him now.” Simmons quipped. Makes sense, given how he’d fit in perfectly within the Blue Jays’ budget. CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson recently projected Bichette’s value. The 27-year-old could land a seven-year, $189 million deal in free agency this winter. The only big question around Bichette’s free agency is how teams will evaluate him defensively. If a club is comfortable with his play at shortstop, then Willy Adames’ deal with the Giants, seven years, $182 million, serves as a solid benchmark. Notably, the Blue Jays locked up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a massive half-billion-dollar deal earlier this year. They also managed to keep Shane Bieber on a team-friendly contract. And honestly, landing Bichette on a similar long-term deal would be the perfect centerpiece to cap off their offseason. If not the Yankees, Bo Bichette could sign a massive deal with an NL rival The Toronto Blue Jays witnessed one of the gutsiest performances of the year when Bo Bichette pushed through injury to suit up for the World Series in October. He was clearly battling pain all season long, yet continued to grind it out and find ways to stay on the field. So, of course, there will be no shortage of teams ready to make a run at the star shortstop. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Bo Bichette could shock Toronto fans by leaving for the Atlanta Braves this offseason. The Braves entered last season with sky-high expectations but ultimately fell short. A glaring weakness for them was at shortstop, and Bo Bichette could instantly fill that void. Targeting Bichette makes perfect sense for Atlanta. They have the financial flexibility and the roster fit to make a serious push. Still, it’s tough to imagine them outbidding the Blue Jays. Even so, the Braves should be considered one of the top contenders in the Bichette sweepstakes. The interest is real. The need is clear. Even the resources are there. Whether they can actually lure him away from Toronto, though, is something only time will tell.
