The Toronto Blue Jays are facing one of the most crucial offseasons in recent history. After failing to find postseason success since 2016, fans are eager for changes to help the team rebound from a disappointing season.
This winter, the Jays have several priorities: addressing gaps in the roster, managing the crowded infield, and exploring long-term solutions for their core players. Notably, the organization has yet to extend contracts for any of its young homegrown talents beyond their arbitration years.
Bo Bichette is also a key candidate for an extension, coming off a season marred by injuries that led to career-low statistics. In 81 games and 336 plate appearances, Bichette posted a .225/.277/.322 slash line with 16 doubles, four home runs, and 31 RBIs, resulting in a .598 OPS.
This marked the first time he recorded a below-average OPS+ (71) and a batting average under .290, contrasting with his previous ability to make consistent contact. He also fell short of hitting 20 or more home runs for the first time in four seasons, finishing with a -0.3 bWAR due to struggles with injuries that kept him out of the lineup.
A right calf injury forced Bichette onto the injured list multiple times this year, and after he finally returned to health, he broke a finger on his left hand during infield practice, effectively ending his season.
Bo Bichette has been placed on the 10-Day IL with a broken finger, which will end his 2024 season pic.twitter.com/KgHkfBMloX
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 19, 2024
For a player aiming to secure a long-term contract, this season has been forgettable for Bo Bichette. While his defensive performance has varied and some speculate a future move to second base, his bat has typically been a reliable asset—until this year.
Before hitting the injured list, Bichette was already struggling at the plate. He was swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and appeared uncomfortable. Known for his aggressive approach, he wasn’t making enough contact and had a low .269 BABIP. His .096 ISO also marked a career low.
In previous seasons, Bichette excelled at getting on base, leading the American League in hits in both 2021 and 2022. He has a talent for driving the ball to the opposite field and has consistently performed above league averages in various hitting metrics.
Amid the struggles of both Bichette and the Blue Jays this season, rumors circulated that the former top prospect might welcome a trade. He fueled speculation by mentioning he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Jays dealt him at the deadline.
Later in the season, however, Bichette expressed his desire to remain with the team and potentially sign an extension to compete alongside Guerrero. This raises important questions about the current status of negotiations for a long-term deal between Bichette and the Blue Jays.
Bo Bichette has been accused by some fans of flirting with a trade by stating that he wants to win and that it is his number one priority when choosing a team.
Did Bo go too far here, or was he right to say this? 🤔pic.twitter.com/fV7IvEUIKp
— Blue Jays Today (@TodayJays) July 11, 2024
Currently, securing an extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. appears to be a much higher priority for the Blue Jays than for Bo Bichette, who seems to be more of an afterthought at this point.
Reaching an agreement on contract length and average annual value (AAV) may be challenging following Bichette’s disappointing season. However, it’s likely that 2024 will be viewed more as an anomaly rather than a reflection of his future performance.
From a financial standpoint, it is feasible for the Jays to sign both Guerrero and Bichette to long-term deals, but doing so would consume a significant portion of the front office’s budget for this winter and the next few years.
Given that the team needs to address multiple areas to contend in the near future, fitting both players into the long-term payroll may be complicated. This remains a contentious issue, especially since the team’s salary constraints are not publicly disclosed following a difficult season.
If Mark Shapiro‘s comments are accurate, the club should have enough financial flexibility for extension talks, provided both parties are open to negotiations.
With Guerrero, Bichette, Chris Bassitt, and Jordan Romano all set to become free agents after the 2025 season, the Blue Jays will face tough decisions regarding the future makeup of their roster. While a complete rebuild isn’t imminent, there’s a possibility that Bichette could enter the open market next winter—unless he’s traded beforehand.
On the other hand, there’s a realistic scenario where Bichette remains with the Blue Jays for the next five years or more, but that would require several favorable developments.
For now, it seems that the situation between the Blue Jays and Bichette will remain a “wait and see” scenario regarding long-term negotiations. However, the longer discussions are prolonged, the greater the chance that a core player like Bichette could be wearing a different jersey by 2026.
Leave a Reply