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Blue Jays: Bo Bichette should be the priority free agent target following the recent Cease signing
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Photo credit: © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Graeme Wallace
Nov 28, 2025, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 27, 2025, 22:46 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays‘ top offseason priority following the recent seven-year deal for right-hander Dylan Cease should remain retaining free-agent infielder Bo Bichette, as they hope to build on the momentum of their run to the World Series in 2025.
The star shortstop is being pursued by several other teams with the profile of an elite-hitting middle infielder who rarely hits the open market.
The Jays have also been linked to top outfield free-agent Kyle Tucker, who is an obvious fit, as well, given his left-handed power bat to complement Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the lineup. It’s unlikely that the team has the resources to sign both stars, even before the team signed Cease.
Given his proven hitting ability, baseball IQ, popularity amongst the fanbase and the locker room, and to prevent him from signing with another team, Bichette should be the Blue Jays’ top priority as of right now.

Bo Bichette should still be the top priority signing

Bichette is coming off a strong contract walk year.
He hit .311 (2nd in the AL), with 44 doubles, 18 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .840 OPS before a home-plate collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells prematurely ended his regular season on September 6th. The 27-year-old displayed strength of character by returning for the World Series before he was 100% and hit .348, and drove in six runs, including a memorable three-run jack that opened the scoring in Game 7 of the Fall Classic.
We also saw Bichette play second base for the first time in his pro career, and he looked quite capable there in the small sample size provided. With Andrés Giménez in tow for the next four seasons as a player with one of the best defensive reputations in baseball, having Bo as a premium offensive player at second base makes sense.
As sensible as it is to retain Bichette from a baseball standpoint, there’s also the human side of investing deeply in a player drafted in 2016 who is as popular as anyone not named Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The two stars have become close on and off the field, and are closely connected to Manager John Schneider, who has been with the organization since 2001.
There’s a reason Bichette is, along with Tucker, one of the top names this winter on the free agent board.
He’d instantly improve any team he joins, but returning to a Blue Jays team that came tantalizingly close to a title last season and is set up well to do so again just seems inevitable. Signing the former second-round draft pick to a long-term contract maximizes the team’s chances with the current core.
Wednesday night’s splashy signing of  Cease may give the Jays an edge over Bichette signing with another team. If the two sides strike a deal, the front office and brain trust will gain an offensive threat at the plate who is also a fan favourite. When he’s been healthy, Bichette has been one of the best hitters in the sport, and securing his services for the next several years will give the Blue Jays their best chance at an elusive third World Series crown, given their previous moves this offseason. 

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