A number of big-name free agents got their signings out of the way early, but not Bo Bichette.
The Toronto Blue Jays' shortstop remains on the open market, with his former team among many interested in bringing him back.
And as some other contract values have come in, there's become more clarity on what Bichette might get paid.
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel projected contracts for the top hitters before free agency began, and he slotted Bichette at five years for $130 million.
Now? McDaniel projects Bichette to go for five years and $150 million.
There isn't a direct reason given in the new article by ESPN's Jesse Rogers for why the projection has risen. But given especially that Pete Alonso went well above expectation, there might be some more money flying around if Bichette's suitors get into a bidding war.
This is some of what Rogers explained in his analysis:
Bichette hasn't played in more than 135 games in a season since 2022, but still finished 16th in American League MVP voting in 2023 and 2025. The most recent comp for his free agency might be San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames, who signed a seven-year, $182 million contract last offseason.
Adames produced a 4.8 fWAR for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024 and played in 161 games that season, helping to provide that gap in fWAR, before he became a free agent. Only once in his career (when he played just 81 games in 2024) has Bichette posted an OPS+ below 121 while Adames hasn't exceeded an OPS+ of 119 since 2021.
Bichette is also a couple of years younger than Adames, putting him more in line age-wise with Carlos Correa, who signed a six-year, $200 million contract after a 4.6 fWAR season with Minnesota in 2022.
MORE: Christian Yelich shows his puppy a proper appreciation of Tavon Austin
The biggest question for Bichette in free agency is probably about position, though, which is what makes those shortstop comparisons tough.
The expectation is that Bichette will eventually slide to second base or third base. His bat can play at any spot, but those are both less valuable spots on the positional spectrum than shortstop.
It's not going to limit his earning potential too much, though. Bichette will still make easily into nine figures. The Blue Jays have to decide whether they want to pay it.
More MLB news:
- Dodgers' payroll is even more loaded with Edwin Diaz
- It's a good day to remember Bob Feller's brilliance and his time in the U.S. Navy
- How Aroldis Chapman is able to pitch for Great Britain in the WBC
- What the Kyle Schwarber signing means for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Poetic paragraph reveals Cody Bellinger's free agent landing spots
- Royals keep Maikel Garcia around for a long time