There was an assumption that the shortstop would be back in a Toronto uniform this offseason, but he ultimately signed with the New York Mets.
After the Toronto Blue Jays lost in Game 7 of the World Series in 2025, I'll admit that I thought free agent-to-be Bo Bichette would be back with Toronto in 2026.
I wasn't sure what it would look like, but I couldn't imagine Bichette playing anywhere else, not after the Jays came so agonizingly close to winning their first title since 1993.
I had heard the organization talk about how much it valued Bichette's time, and I had heard Bichette talk about how much he loved the organization and the city. I thought it was a marriage that would continue in pursuit of the ultimate goal.
But it wasn't to be. The Blue Jays elected to spend their resources elsewhere: They signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to multi-year deals to help the rotation while adding Kazuma Okamoto to the infield and Tyler Rogers to the bullpen.
Bichette ultimately signed with the New York Mets.
So with the decision by both parties to move on, let's revisit what exactly played into it all.
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) hits a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesThe Jays had some interesting decisions to make in the infield
Bichette was not regarded as a great defensive shortstop, and he's since moved to third base in New York.
The Jays had Andres Gimenez, a solid defender, ready to step in at short, and Ernie Clement ready to step in at second.
That left the third base discussion to be had, and there was, at least a thought that Addison Barger could have stepped into that role, making it harder for the team to commit to Bichette there either.
And then Okamoto happened....
Once the Blue Jays signed Okamoto, there was even less room for Bichette. Perhaps the Jays liked Okamoto's power. Perhaps they felt he was a better third baseman, or perhaps they liked the price and years, as opposed to how much they thought it would take to keep Bichette in a Blue Jays uniform.
What about the prospects?
Not only did the Blue Jays have Clement and Gimenez in the fold for several years, they also have JoJo Parker and Arjun Nimmala coming. The Blue Jays have not had a well-regarded farm system for years, so they need to give some room to the guys they have coming.
Signing Bichette, likely to a long-term deal, could have impacted the development for both of them.
Spreading money out in other places
Yimi Garcia is a free agent after 2026. Jeff Hoffman is a free agent after 2027. Spending on Tyler Rogers assures that the Jays have an elite reliever beyond that 2027 time frame.
Kevin Gausman is a free agent after 2026. Spending on Ponce and Cease assured the Jays of having solid rotation options beyond that.
The ability to fill those holes, both now, and in the future, could have contributed to the decisions as well.
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