The Toronto Blue Jays lost Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night to the Los Angeles Dodgers in heartbreaking fashion. The Blue Jays had two outs left to win their first championship in over 25 years, but they lost in extra innings. What happens to Bichette? Bo Bichette has been the Blue Jays starting shortstop since 2019. He was not on the team for the majority of the playoff run because he sprained his knee in the regular-season. Bichette was not at 100% when he returned to the World Series, but despite this he had a big impact against the Dodgers. Bichette’s three-run blast off Shohei Ahtani looked like it could be the game-winning shot. Bichette missed the Jays’ October game and the team lost the lead. Now, he’s slated to enter the free agent market as one of most desirable players available this winter.
Bichette, 27 years old, is a career batter with a.294/.337/.469 OPS+ (121) and 111 home runs. His seven seasons of big-league play have also seen him steal 60 bases. Baseball Reference estimates that his contributions are worth 20.8 Wins above Replacement. Bichette may not be a great defensive player, but his offensive ability, combined with his relative youth will make him a desirable target for teams looking to upgrade their infield.Bichette said to reporters that he wanted to be in the team from the start. The Blue Jays had made headlines earlier this season when they signed first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for a $500 million contract extension. Toronto general manger Ross Atkins confirmed that he had wanted to do this with Bichette in the past, but it has not happened.
Atkins told the media in April, “There is definitely interest.” “…It’s also our vision for [Guerrero and Bichette] To continue playing together. We will do all we can to try and line up.”The Blue Jays continue to hold exclusive rights in negotiating with Bichette for several more days. It’s anybody’s game after that. If the two sides can’t line up on a new agreement to keep Bichette in town, the Blue Jays could just slot in Andrés Giménez at the six, the way they have throughout this postseason. Toronto could also look outside of the organization. There aren’t many compelling shortstop options available, however, suggesting that Giménez is not only the path of least resistance, but perhaps the best path period.2. What about rotation? Bichette isn’t alone among Blue Jays veterans who may be heading elsewhere.
Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, two of Toronto’s most experienced veterans, are eligible to sign a free-agent contract. Shane Bieber, who was added at the deadline, could also join them if he follows through with his plan and cancels the $16m player option that he has for the 2026 campaign. Those three combined to start 31 of Toronto’s 66 second-half games.To provide further uncertainty, the Blue Jays also lost José Berríos to elbow inflammation in September and Bowden Francis to a shoulder impingement in June. Good news: Both pitchers resumed throwing in October. Neither was deemed ready to participate in a post-season round. Presumably Berríos and Francis will be good to go come this spring. If that is the case, the Blue Jays could — without any re-signings or outside additions — trot out a starting five consisting of Kevin Gausman, postseason breakout star Trey Yesavage, Berríos, Francis, and Eric Lauer. Blue Jays should look to sign at least one additional arm, even if it’s just for insurance.
3. Can key additions perform better in Year 2?For as well as the season played out for the Blue Jays, it’s easy to forget that a few of their top additions from last winter did not live up to expectations.Outfielder Anthony Santander followed up the best full-season of his career by hitting just .175/.271/.294 (57 OPS+) with six home runs in 54 games. Closer Jeff Hoffman, meanwhile, posted a 4.37 ERA (98 ERA+) and issued more than 16 walks in his final 28 ⅔ innings — those troubles didn’t prevent him from saving 33 games and finishing 26 others, but they did stray from the marks he had compiled in the years prior. The home run issue that Hoffman had (allowing him to allow two homers every nine innings of regular season play) caught up to him in the World Series Game 7, as he let Miguel Rojas hit the game-tying shot in the ninth.
2025-11-02 06:01:42
