Blue Jays predicted to sign $400M World Series champion as Bo Bichette update adds optimism

Hunter Cookston

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Blue Jays predicted to sign $400M World Series champion as Bo Bichette update adds optimism image

The Toronto Blue Jays are shaping up to be one of the most exciting teams to watch this offseason as they aim to improve upon a roster that just reached the World Series. One of their main priorities is re-signing Bo Bichette, and MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson offered a promising update.

“Bichette has said all along that he wants to stay in Toronto. He wants to remain with the organization that drafted him in 2016 and developed him into an All-Star. He wants to play alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his longtime friend and co-star. Sentimentality only gets you so far, but the Blue Jays clearly hold some level of a ‘tiebreaker’ here with Bichette if everything else is even. This organization needs another big bat in the middle of the lineup, too, and who better than Bichette, whose three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series was nearly an era-defining moment? The interest here is mutual and the player fits a clear need, making this a sensible reunion on all fronts, even when you put emotion to the side."

Even with Bichette likely to return, Kyle Tucker is another name the Blue Jays could target, especially if he rules out a return to Chicago.

“We'll see what happens. Don't know what the future is going to hold. If not, it's been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether it’s playing next year or not with them,” Tucker said.

Justbaseball.com’s Ryan Finkelstein predicts Toronto could land Tucker this offseason.

“This time around, coming off a season that makes them look like a true destination, I am predicting they will finally land the top free agent available and sign Kyle Tucker,” Finkelstein wrote. “The Soto bidding war may not happen here for Tucker, so clearing $50 million in AAV may be too steep an ask, but clearing $40 million per season should be well within reach. All it takes is a few teams who are motivated to make Tucker their absolute top priority this winter, and things can very quickly escalate to, and past, $400 million on a 10-year deal.”

If the Blue Jays secure Tucker, the entire league will be on notice. Toronto is hungry for another World Series run and seems willing to do whatever it takes. After falling just a couple of outs short last season, they are poised to dominate the AL and return to the top. Adding one of the best right fielders in the game today would be a significant move in that pursuit.

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Contributing writer

Contributing Writer