The Toronto Blue Jays face some of the most consequential decisions of any Major League Baseball team as the winter approaches.
After a massive letdown in 2024, the Blue Jays have a ballooning payroll, an aging pitching staff, and two young superstars approaching free agency. Toronto is approaching a crucial intersection, and the path they choose could dictate the next decade of Blue Jays baseball.
After his tremendous bounce-back campaign in 2024, the Blue Jays are likely to seek a long-term extension for first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero is the face of the franchise, and there have even been reports that the Blue Jays may be looking to pair him with New York Yankees superstar Juan Soto in the lineup.
How the Blue Jays deal with Guerrero’s situation will impact other players on the roster, and none more so than shortstop Bo Bichette, the other young star with one year remaining on his deal. Chris Landers of FanSided predicted that if Guerrero gets his extension, Bichette will be shown the door in a trade.
“It’s hard to believe that the team can afford both (Guerrero and Bichette) while also doing enough to plug the many other holes on this roster,” Landers said. “The Jays will be faced with a choice: Move Bichette before he hits free agency next winter, or likely lose him for nothing but a compensatory draft pick.”
Trading players when their value is low is never a fun proposition, and Bichette’s could hardly be lower after the 2024 season he endured. His .598 OPS was over 200 points lower than his career average, and he was limited to just 81 games due to a lingering calf injury.
Still, Bichette is a two-time AL hits leader, and is still only 26 years old. Lots of contending teams (like the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers) are expected to be in search of shortstop talent, and could look to acquire and extend Bichette rather than overpay in free agency.
Perhaps the Blue Jays won’t want to give up on Bichette, and that’s entirely reasonable. But if 2025 isn’t going to be the year Toronto finally gets over the hunt, it’s wiser to get something in return for the shortstop rather than lose him for nothing in the winter.
