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What’s next for Bo Bichette? Examining the possibility of a short term ‘prove-it’ deal
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Nicholas Paleolog
May 14, 2025, 11:00 EDTUpdated: May 14, 2025, 08:01 EDT
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Just a year ago, the idea of Bo Bichette signing for anything less than a massive nine-figure contract seemed laughable. Now? ESPN’s Jeff Passan is floating the possibility that the 26-year-old shortstop could be looking at a short-term deal laden with opt-outs.
“Going into last season, we were talking about Bo Bichette as a $300 million player,” said Passan, speaking on Sportsnet 590 The Fan recently. “He plays shortstop, he hits .300 every year, and he was going to hit free agency in his 20s. But now? I still think he’s a $100 million player, but is that even a contract he’s going to sign? Or is he going to go on one of those short-term deals… just to try and maximize that good year he anticipates having at some point.”
Yes, you read that right, a short-term ‘prove-it’ deal could be on the table for a player who was once mentioned in the same breath as Trea Turner. So what changed?

A slow decline for Bichette

It’s been a slow decline, but the numbers paint a clear picture. The version of Bo Bichette we’ve seen over the past year just hasn’t looked like the guy Blue Jays fans are used to seeing. He’s still making contact, sure, but the power, what made him special, seems to have all but vanished to start the campaign. 
“We’ve seen him at points this year hit for average, but we have not seen the power,” says Passan. “That to me was always what made Bo Bichette a special player… That part seems to have more or less disappeared.”
Blue Jays fans on social media have noticed, too. On May 7th, JaysViews tweeted:
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Bo Bichette has a .683 OPS on the season. We’re now looking at a .626 OPS over his last 500 PA dating back to last year. He’s just not the same guy. The power and speed have both disappeared. Still plenty of time to turn it around, but disappointing for both team and player.

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Since that tweet, Bichette has picked things up slightly, but the lack of pop remains a concern, especially for a player heading into his prime years, which brings us to the Blue Jays’ conundrum.
If Bichette’s market isn’t what it used to be, and if he’s open to a one-year deal to rebuild his value, should the Blue Jays bite?
It’s a fair question. Despite the dip in production, Bichette is still a core piece of the franchise. Fans have his jersey, he’s been a staple of the team’s lineup since 2019, and while his current numbers might not scream superstar, his ceiling absolutely still does. 
For the year, Bichette has posted a .286/.337/.411 slash line with a .748 OPS across 175 at-bats. He’s been a mainstay at the top of the lineup and the left side of second base and has 13 doubles, three home runs, and 21 RBIs in 2025. His xBA is solid (98th percentile/.322), but the power hasn’t translated, although the same could be said for quite a few names on the Jays lineup. His fielding ability ranks low in terms of range (1st percentile/-5 OAA), and he has five errors on the season for a .962 fielding percentage and a -4 DRS.

Bichette and the one-year ‘prove-it’ deal

So, if you’re the Blue Jays’ front office, and Bichette is actually willing to take a one-year ‘prove-it’ deal? Or maybe sign the qualifying offer if he hits free agency? That feels like a no-brainer. Keep a familiar face in the clubhouse, bet on the upside, and give yourself a potential steal of a contract while potentially putting together something more long-term in the process.
Of course, this could also mean the growing speculation about a possible Bo Bichette trade at this year’s deadline might not come to pass. If he’s sticking around on a short-term deal, it’s hard to see Toronto moving him. Especially if the team has any intention of contending down the stretch.
A few months ago, it felt like a lock that Bichette would be gone. Now, with his value potentially dipping and his market uncertain, there’s a real chance the Blue Jays could bring him back, and maybe, even at a discount.

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