Bo Bichette was going to get paid either way, but the World Series certainly didn’t hurt his stock. After hitting .348 in seven games despite missing six weeks of action—and crushing a three-run home run against Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series—Bichette has officially departed the Toronto Blue Jays for now.

With legitimate questions about his defensive position and the Blue Jays’ pressing need for starting pitching, it’s no guarantee he will return. For as often as Bichette has professed his desire to remain in Toronto, could there be other teams that show more willingness to bid into the $200 million range? The Blue Jays have a deep lineup beyond Bichette, but it remains to be seen if that translates into competitive offers.

Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein thinks the two-time All-Star is bound to wind up with an American League rival. In an article published on Friday, Finkelstein projected an eight-year, $208 million contract for Bichette, with the shortstop landing with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers had some of the worst infield production of any team in the sport this year, especially among playoff contenders.

“The Tigers currently feature the top prospect in all of baseball, shortstop Kevin McGonigle. There is every chance McGonigle is ready for Opening Day, which could make things a bit complicated if Bichette is unwilling to move off shortstop,” Finkelstein wrote. “Regardless, Bichette could be the missing piece that unlocks a contender that can win it all with Tarik Skubal in 2026.

“Since Bichette is 18 months younger than San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames was when he hit free agency, it is fair to expect he could receive at least one more year on his deal. An eight-year deal at $26 million per year brings us to $208 million.”

The Blue Jays’ projected tax payroll for next season sits at just under $242 million when accounting for arbitration salaries, according to Spotrac. That’s already the fifth-highest in the sport, and Toronto is expected to pursue starting pitching in free agency—seeing as it’s likely unwise to count on rookie Trey Yesavage to be a No. 2 starter over the course of a full season.

But does this payroll situation mean Toronto isn’t willing to go over $200 million to keep Bichette? Or does it mean Detroit is ready to make a bigger commitment? It’s certainly too early to know. The fact that the Blue Jays have handed out bigger contracts than Detroit in recent years might give Toronto fans some confidence moving forward.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/bo-bichette-projected-to-sign-208m-contract-with-blue-jays-al-rival-11033184