Listen to this article
Approximately 4 minutes
The audio version of this article was created using text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.
Bo Bichette has rejected a qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays, meaning the seven-season major league veteran will decide to choose his next contract from what is offered to him on the open market.
Bichette, 27, has still played for the Blue Jays – and he could still return to play for Toronto, although the ballclub will have to compete with any other interested teams to secure his services for next year and beyond.
Qualifying offers are extended to certain eligible players entering free agency as a method of ensuring that teams receive draft pick compensation if those players sign with a new team. Tuesday was the deadline for players to decide whether to accept.
This year, Bichette was among nine players who rejected qualifying offers from teams. Four major league players accepted such offers, which were set at $22,025,000 for the 2026 season, a figure derived from average salary of the 125 highest paid players in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Four of the players who accepted qualifying offers were starting pitchers. Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres; Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff; and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham.
Along with Bichette, MLB players who rejected qualifying offers were Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker; The Philadelphia Phillies designated reliever Kyle Schwarber and his teammate, starter Ranger Suarez; San Diego Padres starting pitchers Dylan Keys and Michael King; New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz; Arizona right-hander Zach Gallen; and Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez.
Return of the World Series
Bichette had a strong regular season for the Blue Jays, but knee injury removed him from the field for the final weeks of the pennant race.
He missed the first two rounds of the Blue Jays' playoffs, but returned to Toronto's lineup for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto fought hard in the seven-game series, which saw Los Angeles emerge victorious in a dramatic Game 7 that went into extra innings.
Bichette hit a home run off Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. in the third inning of game sevenwhich gave Toronto a 3–0 lead, which Los Angeles then erased as the game progressed.
Miguel Rojas hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning for Los Angeles, pushing the game into extra innings before The Blue Jays lost to the Dodgers 5-4. in 11th place, making Los Angeles the perennial MLB champions.
In the seven-game World Series Bichette hit .348.with eight hits, four walks, six RBIs and two runs scored.
Pressure on Toronto
With Toronto so close to winning, the Blue Jays organization is under pressure to try to make another Fall Classic appearance next year. a difficult feat for any teamno matter how talented he is, achieve.
Bichette is one of the few Blue Jays players who are currently free agents, but the productive infielder appears to be Toronto's top priority this offseason.
Starting pitchers Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer are also free agents, as are infielders Ty France (newly signed Golden Glove Award Winner), Iranthony Dominic.
Across the league, few free agents have signed notable contracts early in the offseason.
The only exception is Canadian Josh Naylor, who has agreed to a five-year contract costs US$92.5 million to remain with the Seattle Mariners.
Naylor, 28, was a tough contender for the Blue Jays when he played for the Mariners in the recent American League Championship Series. He hit a stunning .417 in the seven-game series and hit three home runs against Blue Jays pitchers.
Toronto beat Seattlewhich allowed the Blue Jays to advance to the World Series.
