Bo Bichette took the biggest swing of his life on Saturday night.
The three-run home run Bichette hit could've been the lasting image of a Toronto Blue Jays World Series championship, until it wasn't.
This week, he'll be a free agent.
Bichette played this whole year on the final season of his contract. Unlike Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who got a shiny $500 million contract in April, Bichette couldn't get a new deal done.
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It's loomed in the background all season, but now there's no more season. There's just a star shortstop hitting the open market.
So yes, Bichette was asked about his contract soon after Game 7 ended.
His response to reporters, via The Athletic's Mitch Bannon: "I’ve said I wanted to be here from the beginning."
On the one hand, that's good news for the Blue Jays. Bichette doesn't plan on running away from Toronto.
But read in a certain tone, there also feels like there's some sass to that. Like, he's made himself clear and is waiting to see his interest reciprocated.
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Bichette will command a contract in the nine figures. Whether it's $150 million, or $200 million, or more, remains to be seen.
Toronto will likely get involved in the bidding while also knowing it already has a lot of money set to pay Vladdy in the years ahead.
The Blue Jays won't want to lose their World Series core. And Bichette doesn't want to leave. Maybe that'll be enough to get a deal done and keep him in town.
More World Series news:
- Andy Pages made the catch of his life to preserve the World Series
- Bo Bichette admits thoughts about leaving Toronto after World Series
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto with insane Game 6, 7 history
- Will Smith extends improbable World Series streak for his name
- Ernie Clement with the most prolific hitting postseason ever
- World Series Game 7 reminds us why we love sports