By Shaun McAvoyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Toronto Blue Jays have a major decision to make this offseason on Bo Bichette.
Bichette has spent all seven seasons of his career with the Blue Jays and is set to test free agency for the first time after declining a qualifying offer from the Blue Jays. The 27-year-old shortstop slashed .311/.357/.483 this season, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 94 runs.
With Bichette set to be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, Just Baseball's Ryan Finkelstein projected that he will sign an eight-year contract worth roughly $208 million.
..."Bo Bichette was very close to being an all-time World Series hero for the Blue Jays, hitting an early three-run homer in Game 7 that had Toronto in line to win it all," Finkelstein wrote Thursday. "Now, the Blue Jays have to decide if that was Bichette’s last game played in their uniform. This is not a knock on him, it is more just how their roster is constructed.
"When it comes to the contract, Willy Adames got a seven-year, $182 million deal last year. That is $26 million per season for a shortstop who has a different game than Bichette’s, but one who would conceivably have a similar market value. Since Bichette is 18 months younger than Adames was when he hit free agency, it is fair to expect that he could receive at least one more year than him on his deal. An eight-year deal at $26 million per year brings us to $208 million."
Bringing back Bichette should be one of the Blue Jays' top priorities for the rest of the offseason. After reportedly agreeing with Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million contract, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, it will be interesting to see if Toronto offers another massive contract in free agency to Bichette.
More MLB: Dylan Cease Acquisition Could Be Bad News For Blue Jays All-Star: Insider
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