Blue Jays aren’t left completely empty-handed with Bichette going to the Mets

The Toronto Blue Jays were left in shock after seeing long-time shortstop Bo Bichette join the New York Mets on a three-year, $126 million deal in free agency this past week. Blue Jays fans, without question, had a sense of emptiness after watching the superstar grow and develop in front of their eyes, only to see him walk away. It was particularly painful since it also came right after the fact that the Blue Jays lost out in landing top free agent Kyle Tucker the night before.

Nevertheless, Toronto hasn’t been left completely empty-handed after these transactions. In the case with Bichette going to the Mets, because he had previously turned down the qualifying offer made by the Blue Jays, Toronto will get a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round in the 2026 MLB Draft. And if makes Blue Jays feel any better, at least the Mets will lose their second and fifth round draft picks this upcoming summer along with $1 million in international bonus pool money in the process.

Blue Jays aren’t left completely empty-handed with Bichette going to the Mets

Obviously, just a single draft pick, let alone one after the first four rounds, will be a hard pill to swallow for Blue Jays fans for the loss of Bichette. After all, what are the chances that such a pick would turn out to be someone of Bichette’s caliber down the road? If taking a look back in Blue Jays franchise history, the bulk of their draft picks that turned into stars were predominantly in the first three rounds, as cleverly pointed out by our very own Matthew Sookram.

Despite that, the Blue Jays have unearthed a few gems beyond the fourth round over the years, most notably Pat Hentgen in the fifth round of the 1986 MLB Draft, Jesse Barfield in the ninth round of the 1977 MLB Draft, and of course fan favourite Dave Stieb from the fifth round of the 1978 MLB Draft. So not all could be lost as the Blue Jays did hit a few, rare jackpots along the way.

In all, Toronto and their fans will now need to accept life and continue on without Bichette, at least for the next season. Bichette does have a couple of opt-outs after each year in his three-year contract with the Mets. So improbable, but not impossible that he could find his way back to the Blue Jays somewhere down the road. Nevertheless, things will feel just a little different as the Blue Jays officially move on from their once-prized franchise shortstop.