Bo Bichette has declined the Toronto Blue Jays' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, entering free agency at age 27. The move was expected for the shortstop, who had a strong bounceback season and hit a memorable three-run homer in the World Series. The Blue Jays remain interested in re-signing him amid competition from other teams.
Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette formally declined the Blue Jays' qualifying offer on Monday, a decision anticipated given his status as one of baseball's top free agents. The offer, worth $22.025 million for one year, was never seriously considered by Bichette, who now tests the open market after a resurgent 2025 campaign. In that season, he batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and an .840 OPS, rebounding from an injury-plagued 2024.
Bichette's highlight came in Game 7 of the World Series, where he hit a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani during the Blue Jays' 11-inning loss. He returned from a left knee injury that sidelined him for seven weeks, even shifting positions to contribute in the postseason. 'I said I’ve wanted to be here from the beginning,' Bichette said after the defeat, expressing his long-term desire to stay in Toronto alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins praised Bichette's impact: 'A great player. Bo has been a significant part of us being in a strong position today... I know he’s going to be attractive to the market, and we’ll be in his market.' If Bichette signs elsewhere, Toronto receives draft compensation, though losing him would sting given his role in five solid seasons, including a strong 2025.
Interest spans multiple teams, with some viewing him as a shortstop—such as the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers—while others eye him at second or third base, per reports from ESPN's Jeff Passan and MLB Network's Jon Paul Morosi. The New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox are also mentioned as potential suitors, the latter seeking an impact bat after trading Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman's opt-out. Bichette's lifetime slash line is .294/.337/.469 with a 121 OPS+, though his defense ranked last in MLB at -13 Outs Above Average in 2025. The Blue Jays, fresh off a near-World Series title, could pursue re-signing him alongside targets like Kyle Tucker, with Andrés Giménez able to cover shortstop.
His positional versatility may lead to a wide valuation range, but Bichette tops free-agent discussions, especially for Toronto.