The Toronto Blue Jays fell just short of winning the World Series last season, and now one of their best players is a free agent. Bo Bichette is the best shortstop on the open market, and the Blue Jays will have plenty of competition to re-sign him.
Bichette had a bounce-back season, hitting .311 with 18 home runs. He had a chance to lead the league in hits before his knee injury. The two-time All-Star will not be cheap to retain, even given his defensive woes. However, some team is bound to pay him, even if it comes with a position change. FanSided’s Mark Powell predicted the Blue Jays would lose Bichette to a different suitor, but would sign Kyle Tucker to replace his production.
“It seems the Blue Jays are eyeing a coveted backup plan, as well,” wrote Powell. “Toronto has been named a dark horse suitor for Kyle Tucker. Toronto has played second fiddle in the free-agent market for much of the past two years, losing out on Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki. Making a World Series appearance should change that. Tucker would be a welcome addition in the Jays clubhouse and an upgrade over Bichette in the lineup. It could be the big swing the Blue Jays need to actually win the Fall Classic if they’re lucky enough to make another run in 2026, as painful as it may be to lose Bichette.”
Tucker is a four-time All-Star and has hit 134 home runs since the start of 2021. He is the top free agent on the market, and if the Blue Jays lose Bichette, they will need to make a splash move in order to remain the team to beat in the American League. Tucker had a down season by his standards, but still had an .841 OPS and 22 home runs.
He hit 15 of his home runs away from Wrigley Field and had much better numbers on the road. Perhaps his down year can be attributed to the Chicago Cubs’ home ballpark. He also dealt with a hand injury in the second half. However, he is bound to get paid and has proven to be one of the best hitters in baseball over the last five seasons. He is projected to sign a 10-year, $401 million deal this winter.
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