Insider's Bo Bichette contract prediction proves Blue Jays will have real competition

The Toronto Blue Jays were never expected to be the only team who would love to have the services of Bo Bichette for 2026 and beyond. They are the only organization he has played for, but the 27-year-old shortstop (?) is going to be highly sought after by many of the 30 MLB teams this winter.

Bichette, as expected, declined the Blue Jays one-year qualifying offer on Tuesday, meaning he'll be looking for more than a $22 million deal. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, that dollar figure could be a reason why several teams figure to be in the mix, and that should be a concern for the Blue Jays and their fans.

Insider's Bo Bichette contract prediction proves Blue Jays will have real competition

Bichette had a great bounce back season in 2025. In 2024 he was held to 81 games and posted the worst numbers of his career, but this past season he hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs in the regular season. He also was healthy enough to play in the World Series after a knee injury kept him out of the lineup for most of September. In the World Series he hit .348/.444/.478 in the Fall Classic.

While his defence at shortstop remains suspect and he showed in the World Series that he is willing to make a position switch, Passan says that teams aren't scared off if he insists on playing at his primary spot. Passan says, "Beyond the Blue Jays, who have Andrés Giménez to play short but still could conceivably sign Tucker and Bichette, the Atlanta Braves and Detroit have holes at the most important position on the infield.

The Yankees could use an upgrade over Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero. The Mets aren't inclined to replace Francisco Lindor at shortstop, but they do have room to improve at second and third, as do the Phillies."

Passan goes on to say Bichette will likely get a contract that is similar to the one Carlos Correa signed in 2022 and that could put a lot of teams in play. He says, "The last player of Bichette's caliber and age to hit free agency was Carlos Correa, and even after a pair of contract agreements that were invalidated because of medical questions, he received a six-year, $200 million deal from the Minnesota Twins.

Whether the contract price for Bichette stays in the range that would allow lower-payroll teams to enter the fray remains to be seen. But after the GM meetings, it's clear there will be no shortage of opportunities for Bichette."

This means the Blue Jays have their work cut out for them as they look to recoup their home grown star as they try to push forward and build off an exceptional 2025 season. They have a ton of momentum and one would think they have the upper hand on the Bichette negotiations, considering they know him better than anyone. But as we've seen there are some teams with deep pockets that would be willing to shell out the cash it would take to bring Bichette into the fold.