With the crushing loss this past weekend, the Toronto Blue Jays and the rest of the 29 teams are heading into the offseason, ready to do business and gear up for the 2026 campaign.

While the Game 7 defeat is fresh on the minds of the Jays, their fans, and the players/staff, the game continues to move forward, and there is business that needs to be done right from the get-go. Players without a dedicated contract next season are already deemed free agents (but can only talk to their respective former teams for the next five days), and players with options (such as Shane Bieber) have five days post-World Series to figure out their next move.

The Blue Jays, like any other big league team, have a laundry list of needs and wants heading into the winter months. Numerous players are heading to free agency, some holes on the roster need to be shored up, and minor trades have already begun between teams, an avenue the Jays could (and likely will) explore over the coming months.

What should Toronto’s biggest priority be this winter? Bringing back Bo Bichette.

Making his debut alongside his pal Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019, Bichette has blossomed into a top hitter at the game’s top level.

He led the American League in hits twice (2021, 2022) and likely would have led the AL again this year had he not injured his knee in early September, spending the next month or so on the IL. For his career, the right-handed bat owns a .294/.337/.469 slash line with 190 doubles, 111 home runs, and a .806 OPS across 748 games. While he only played in the World Series because of his knee injury, he was an impactful bat in the lineup, collecting eight hits (.348) and producing a clutch three-home run in Game 7, which was the biggest offensive outburst for the club in the eventual loss.

Although he struggled in 2024, both on the field and staying healthy, Bichette bounced back in a big way this campaign, asserting himself as one of the top infield bats available on the open market that is still in his prime years. His defensive abilities may be questioned at shortstop, but when you are signing Bichette, the bat is his calling card, and teams may even consider using him at second after he held his own at the position during the World Series.

When asked about his future, Bichette has said all the right things when it comes to playing in Toronto alongside his batterymate in Guerrero.

While his partner in crime secured a large payday earlier this year, Bichette’s Brinks truck never showed up, and while he won’t hit the same level as his counterpart, the 27-year-old will likely cash in this winter, whether it is with Toronto or somewhere else. Pundits across the MLB space have him sitting around $25-30 million AAV, which would put him around Trea Turner’s level of the 11-year, $300 million he inked with the Phillies, but below what Corey Seager signed with the Texas Rangers for (10 years, $325 million). Teams may balk at this figure/AAV because of his fielding abilities, but the bat will be what drives the conversation at the end of the day.

As for the Blue Jays, Bichette is the real priority for this team, especially out of the gate. They have the five-day negotiation window following the World Series to strike up a potential deal, although it’s likely that at this point in the process, the shortstop will likely wait it out for other teams to get in on the action.

Toronto could have Andres Gimenez slide over to the left side of second base and have Bichette return to his World Series position moving forward; however, the key here is what Bichette offers at the plate and how he complements the Jays lineup alongside Guerrero, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and newcomer Addison Barger. His ability to get on base and hit for power the odd time here or there is what the Jays would really be missing if he were to depart, ending his Jays career on a sour note after being just one game shy of a World Series ring.

The plan is simple: extend Bichette now, then turn your attention to other postseason matters.

With the contracts of Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and potentially Shane Bieber coming off the payroll, there is room for the Jays to spend, especially since Kevin Gausman and George Springer will be crossed off the list next winter as well (barring a return or extension for any of them). Factoring in even further is the fact that Rogers just made boatloads of cash this postseason thanks to the Blue Jays’ deep run, so maximizing on the hot hand and giving general manager Ross Atkins some cap room to play with shouldn’t be an issue for a team that was already in the top five of spending last year.

Should Bichette find another team this postseason, the Jays will gain a draft pick in return, considering the shortstop will likely decline the qualifying offer, giving the Jays an additional pick in the fourth round. However, that shouldn’t be a consideration for the Jays at this time, and they should pay the man what he is worth.

Barring some unreasonable ask from Bichette and his camp, there should be zero reason he isn’t in a Blue Jays uniform for the foreseeable future. Re-signing Bo Bichette should be the top priority for the Toronto Blue Jays this winter and sets the course for other free agents to see that Toronto is serious about contending again.

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