With the deadline to accept or decline qualifying offers set for yesterday, more names have hit the open market this offseason. One of them was Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop Bo Bichette, who will now be the top hitter available heading into the 2026 season. Bichette is one of the best-hitting infielders in all of baseball, and he missed a bunch of time due to a left knee sprain.
Bichette Hits Open Market
Bichette will command a long-term, high-value contract, which he deserves. He hit over .300 in two of the last three seasons and posted an OPS above .800. Even after a knee injury, he maintained elite hitting. In the World Series, he slashed .348 with a home run and 6 RBI. Each postseason, he’s been one of Toronto’s top hitters, making him highly attractive to other teams.
His below-average defense will hurt him on the open market. He posted a -13 outs above average this season, among the worst for MLB shortstops. Some teams may address this by moving him to designated hitter or second baseman, as the Blue Jays did in the World Series.
Many teams will pursue him, forcing the Blue Jays to pay a premium to keep their star infielder. The question is, will Toronto offer Bichette the money he deserves?
Can the Blue Jays Retain Him?
Toronto is going to do everything in its power to keep Bichette in Canada for the rest of his career. He has been a pivotal piece of the franchise for years alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Not only will re-signing Bichette be a top priority this offseason for the Blue Jays, but they’ll try to add more talent to the roster to win a championship next season.
They will have much competition, especially in their own division. The Boston Red Sox will be an under-the-radar team in the pursuit of Bichette. He would be a huge addition to the right side of their infield. Boston is expected to be active this offseason and add veterans to the young talent they currently have, like they did with Alex Bregman last offseason.
The New York Yankees would also be a perfect fit for Bichette, but they’re too stubborn to give up on Anthony Volpe, even though we’ve seen that he isn’t the long-term answer since being called up in 2023. Getting Bichette would give the Yankees the leadoff hitter they’ve desperately needed for years, who can consistently get on base at a high percentage.
