Raptors-Kawhi Leonard reunion should give Blue Jays fans hope for emotional move

The Toronto Raptors have brought back a franchise icon. In a deal announced this afternoon (Jun. 30), The Raptors have brough back Kawhi Leonard in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and multiple draft picks.

It's an exciting move for Raptors / Toronto sports fans considering Leonard was one of the main reasons the Raptors were able to capture their first and only NBA championship title in 2019. His buzzer beater in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Philadelphia 76ers stands out as one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.

But following the title win, Leonard signed a deal with the LA Clippers in the offseason, a story line similar to that of another one of Toronto's most beloved athletes for certain time, Bo Bichette. Sure, the main difference is Bichette grew up through the Toronto Blue Jays' system and thrived as a home grown star for seven years before leaving, while Kawhi was a hired gun, brought in to do exactly what he did.

But with Bichette in Toronto with the New York Mets this week for the first time since Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, it has brought up a lot of emotions and has left Blue Jays fans wondering - could Bo return to Toronto?

Bichette coming back to Toronto may not be completely out of the question

Bichette left the Blue Jays in the offseason after coming up just short in helping bring a World Series title back to Canada. His three-run home run in Game 7 against the LA Dodgers would have been on-par with Leonard's game winning bucket had the Blue Jays been able to win that game.

During a media conference ahead of the opener of the series between the Mets and the Blue Jays (on Monday, Jun. 29) Bichette opened up about his time in Toronto, his relationship with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and more. He was visibly emotional about a lot of the questions from reporters and he was fighting back tears for most of the interview. It's clear Bichette loved being in Toronto and maybe, had things gone a different way, he would still be playing for the Blue Jays alongside Guerrero and the rest of the Blue Jays.

What's interesting about all this is that this is a reunion that could still happen. Bichette's deal with the Mets is for three years, but it includes opt-outs after the first and second year. Although, the player option on the deal is a $55 million a year salary, which would make Bo one of the highest paid players in the game. It is unlikely he would get that kind of money from the Blue Jays no matter how much the two sides like each other.

There's also the issue of the impending renegotiations of the Collective Bargaining Agreeement and with a work stoppage likely coming up and a salary cap being one of the main issues, Bichette might never have the chance to make that kind of money again in his life.

But there's another way this reunion could come together. The Blue Jays need a bat in the lineup that can provide some power, and some consistency at hitting with runners in scoring position. Those are two things Bichette can provide. While he got off to an incredibly slow start during his tenure with the Mets, Bichette has gotten hot over the last several weeks. He's hit .301/.337/.519 with eight home runs and a .218 ISO with a .336 BABIP and a 137 wRC+ since May 18.

Since the beginning of May, he's hitting .300/.392/.525 with runners in scoring position, driving in 23 runs and striking out only five times in 40 at-bats. He's putting the ball in play, and coming through in an area of the game that the current Blue Jays have struggled to do all year.

The Mets are looking more and more like sellers going into this year's trade deadline and after firing their manager a few days ago, they could be looking to get out of the burden of some of their bigger contracts. It might not cost the Blue Jays much in prospect capital if they decide to take on all of Bo's salary, plus the empending player options that come with it. Or, if the Mets decide they'll take on some of Bo's 2026 salary, the Blue Jays do have some intriguing higher level prospects that could help the Mets as early as next season.

It might just be a pipe dream, but if Blue Jays fans were holding out any sliver of hope, their friends down the street reuniting with an old pal is more than enough to ignite those feeling.

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