Bounce back candidate: Bo Bichette
MLB Network's Matt Vasgersian predicts a bounce back season for Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Bo Bichette.
Bo Bichette had the worst season of his career in 2024, so the Toronto Blue Jays shortstop will have to bounce back big time in 2025 if he wants a big contract next winter.
I predicted that Bichette would put up career numbers in 2025 in a previous article that I wrote and now it appears that MLB Network's Matt Vasgersian has doubled down on that sentiment yesterday on an episode of MLB Hot Stove.
Vasgersian even went as far as saying that Bo Bichette would return to the Midsummer Classic in seven months time.
Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022, and was named an All-Star in 2021 and 2023, so there is clearly plenty of talent there.
Prior to his injury plagued season in 2024, Bichette was a .299 lifetime hitter with an .826 career OPS.
He was averaging 200 hits, 27 home runs, 40 doubles, 96 RBI, 16 stolen bases and a 5.4 WAR per 162 games.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Ross Atkins has spoken to three teams who have had interest in Bichette.
It looks like Ross Atkins may be more concerned with extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr long term, than an extension for Bichette at this point.
This time last year, experts and fans alike were wondered how the Blue Jays could afford to retain both Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. beyond 2025.
As much as I would love to see the Blue Jays extend both, it's hard to see Ross Atkins extending Bichette, especially if he pulls a rabbit out of his hat by signing Guerrero long term before the spring training deadline.
Now, Bo's market is a major question mark while Guerrero is tracking to score a deal worth upwards of $400 million.
Even if Bichette returns to All-Star status this year, it is unlikely he finds himself signing a contract half that large, but he could be looking at a nine-figure deal if he shows that 2024 was a fluke.
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