Nightengale: Bo Bichette is 'as good as gone.'
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette's days with the Blue Jays appear to be numbered.
There were plenty of rumors and innuendos throughout the 2024 season that Bo Bichette was no longer happy in Toronto, though he tried to put an end to that speculation in September, saying that he wanted to win a championship with the Blue Jays.
That gave fans hope that Bichette, who has just one year remaining on his contract before hitting free agency, would be willing to sign an extension in Toronto.
The report from USA Today's Bob Nightengale puts a serious damper on that hope.
Many thought that the Blue Jays may look to move Bichette during the 2024 season, but management chose to hold onto him in hopes of restoring his value.
2024 was the worst season of his tenure as a Blue Jay. Bichette, who battled a series of injuries limited him to just 81 games. In those games, he hit just .225 with four home runs and 31 RBIs.
Despite a terrible season, Bichette remains one of the better shortstops in the game and should only continue to get better.
The 26-year-old is a two-time All Star and led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022. He's put up a .290 batting average over the course of his six-year MLB career.
While it may not be the only reason, the overall future of the Blue Jays is likely playing a big part in Bichette's reported lack of interest in an extension.
The team finished 74-88 in 2024 and has failed to land any of the big free agents they had an interest in entering the offseason.
The lack of signings paired with a weak farm system suggests they won't be in contending status anytime soon.
At this point, it appears that the best Blue Jays fans can hope for is for Bichette to get back on track early in 2025 to ensure that management is able to maximize a trade return for a player who is certain to receive interest from several teams
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