The Toronto Blue Jays battled to a Game 7 with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series this year, but they ultimately came up one run short.
Now they’re headed for a very important offseason. Superstar shortstop Bo Bichette is headed for free agency after a very good season with the Blue Jays. He seems bound to land a huge contract this winter.
NBC Sports’ Matthew Pouliot recently projected Bichette would sign a massive eight-year, $216 million deal in free agency.
“Bichette was all set to lead the AL in hits for a third time this year before a sprained knee cost him the final 20 games,” Pouliot wrote. “Even so, at 181, he still finished just three behind Bobby Witt Jr. for the major league lead.
That he returned from the knee injury as a second baseman in the World Series is a fascinating turn ahead of his free agency; it’s doubtful anyone was going to look at him as a long-term shortstop anyway, and if he’s willing to change positions now, it would open up his market. There will probably come a time at which Bichette’s lack of bat speed leads to real problems, but he’s a difference-maker on offense right now.”
Bichette is the clear top shortstop in free agency, and he’s likely going to net himself a huge deal as a result.
He had an incredible year for the Blue Jays, but his most valuable asset might be the gutsiness that he showed in the postseason. Bichette played through an injury for the Blue Jays as they pushed for the World Series. He was clearly hurting down the stretch, but he put the team before himself with the season on the line.
There are bound to be a lot of suitors in Bichette’s $216 million free agency sweepstakes.
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