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Blue Jays: Bo Bichette declines qualifying offer
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Nov 18, 2025, 16:30 ESTUpdated: Nov 18, 2025, 16:33 EST
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Bo Bichette will officially hit the open market.
As expected, the Toronto Blue Jays’ cornerstone infielder declined the $22.05 million qualifying offer to become a free agent. The 27-year-old was one of nine players to decline their qualifying offer, with other notable names being Kyle Tucker, Dylan Cease, Edwin Díaz, Ranger Suárez, and Michael King.
There were a handful of players to accepted their qualifying offer. Most notably, Trent Grisham accepted the offer from the New York Yankees, which throws a wrench into the plans of the Blue Jays’ rival. Other players to accept their qualifying offer were Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff, and Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga.
Bichette declining the qualifying offer was procedural; it’s not a bad sign in negotiations between the two parties. While he’s set to hit the market, the Blue Jays are still in his market, according to general manager Ross Atkins.
Coming into the 2025 season, Bichette had the worst year of his career, slashing .225/.277/.322 with four home runs in 336 plate appearances in what was an injury-filled season. Well, he bounced back in a big way, slashing .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs in 628 plate appearances for a 134 wRC+, the best wRC+ of his career.
If Bichette signs elsewhere this off-season, the Blue Jays are entitled to draft compensation in the 2026 draft. That pick would be after the fourth round. The last time the Blue Jays had a compensation pick was in the 2024 draft, when they selected outfield prospect Nick Mitchell. Last off-season, Mitchell was included in the Andrés Giménez trade. Before that, the Jays received compensation picks for both Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray in the 2022 draft; both picks came after the second round.
It’s worth noting that the Blue Jays will more than likely lose a handful of picks, as they’ve been linked to Tucker and Díaz so far this off-season. Since they were a competitive taxpayer, the Jays will lose their second and fifth overall picks. If they sign two players who declined a qualifying offer, they’ll forfeit their second, third, fifth, and sixth round picks.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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