logo
Comparing other big league shortstop contracts for a potential Blue Jays pact with Bo Bichette
alt
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Graeme Wallace
Apr 11, 2025, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 11, 2025, 06:40 EDT
Comments
Fans of the Toronto Blue Jays are experiencing a state of euphoria following the seismic news of the extension of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million megadeal, made official on Wednesday afternoon. Combined with the encouraging start to the season, fans feel optimistic about the future, with one caveat. 
As relieving as it was to hear that Vladdy will be locked up long-term, the team’s other prominent pending free-agent, star shortstop Bo Bichette, is still unsigned. There has been little news about negotiations between the Blue Jays and Bichette other than the shortstop confirming a deal currently isn’t on the table. Still, now that the Guerrero deal is done, the chances of securing the services of the 27-year-old shortstop beyond this season have increased and should be the priority.
While there doesn’t appear to be an imminent contract, comparing some recent signings at the shortstop position could give us a framework for a potential Bichette contract.
The cream of the crop – Francisco Lindor
The 2022 free-agent class featured an unprecedented group of shortstops hitting the open market. No one in that bunch is rated higher than Franciso Lindor, who signed an extension with the New York Mets after being traded during the 2020/2021 offseason, putting pen to paper on a 10-year, $341 million contract. Lindor was a four-time All-Star, with two Gold Glove awards and a pair of Silver Slugger trophies, when he hit free agency as a 28-year-old and entered the 2021 season with a 28.3 bWAR and a 118 OPS+ through 3140 at-bats. Compared to Bichette, who is entering his seventh season in the big leagues (compared to Lindor’s six before extending), the Jays’ shortstop owns a 17.6 bWAR with a 119 OPS+ through 2552 at-bats. 
It’s fair to say that Lindor was more accomplished in his career than Bichette has been and that his would-be extension likely won’t reach this level.
The $300 million club 
Lindor’s contract barely eclipsed the 14-year, $340 million pact Fernando Tatis Jr. signed with the San Diego Padres in 2021. The second-generation superstar was coming off an impressive three-season start to an MLB career in recent memory, with two Silver Slugger awards, an NL home run crown (42 in 2021), and MVP finalist already under his belt. He was a shortstop at the time of his signing, but following the 2022 season, he moved to the outfield. This deal is a bit of a tougher comparable, mostly because the Padres bought out one year of pre-arbtration and three years of arbitration with the deal covering a remaining four years of free agency versus Bichette, who will be looking for more money out of the gate as he has no arbitration years to cover. 
Corey Seager signed the second-highest contract in that memorable winter of ‘22, striking it rich with the Texas Rangers for 10 years and $325 million. The former Dodgers star signed at age 27 with considerable achievements, including Rookie of the Year, two-time Silver Slugger, and World Series MVP. Before joining the Rangers, Seager had authored a 20.9 bWAR through 2419 at-bats with a 131 OPS+ and 104 home runs. On paper, Bichette trails Seager by 3.3 bWAR through the same number of years and also with more at-bats, as the former Dodgers infielder missed considerable time in 2018 and 2021. 
Trea Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2023 campaign. He signed as a 29-year-old as a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger award winner, 2021 NL batting champ, and two-time NL steals leader who, at the time, had accumulated a 33.5 bWAR across 4063 at-bats through nine seasons (Turner was a Super 2 player and went through a fourth year of arbitration). This is closer to the amount Bichette could sign for, but given the higher power profiles and playoff experience of the players in this group, he might be closer to the next tier. 
Recent big-money shortstop signings
Bobby Witt Jr. signed an 11-year, $288.7 contract last year at age 23, following a season that saw him become one of the faces of the sport. Witt’s superb 2024 season included an AL-best .332 batting average and 211 hits, and he would’ve won the AL MVP if it weren’t for Aaron Judge. Similar to Tatis Jr., the Royals covered one year of pre-arb and all of Witt Jr’s arbitration years in this pact, with three more years covered in the deal before the shortstop can opt out of his contract and test free agency at the age of 30, so the comparable is a bit different to Bichette’s situation. 
It would be surprising for Bichette to sign an extension in the range of Witt or the other players mentioned above, but he should still get an enormous boost in pay. He could get a deal similar to the one Carlos Correa signed with the Minnesota Twins, for six years and $200 million, especially if he wants to hit the open market again at age 33. 
It will all depend on the years and whether there are any opt-outs in the contract, but if Bichette can put together a strong season for the Blue Jays, his value will continue to climb, and there is a chance he will secure a figure somewhere in the ballpark of Turner and Seager.
c

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News