Homegrown All-Stars are baseball gold. They’re also getting harder to keep as free-agent contracts skyrocket, putting the Toronto Blue Jays in a tough spot with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette both approaching free agency.
The Blue Jays face a critical decision between their two cornerstone players. Guerrero remains their top priority, but Bichette’s situation has become increasingly complicated.
Bichette, 27, is a two-time All-Star and former American League hits leader who’s set to hit the open market after 2025. His value took a hit after posting a dismal .598 OPS in just 81 games last season — a full 200 points below his career average. He’s bounced back early in 2024, going 7-for-15 to start the campaign, showing flashes of his former self.
What makes this particularly challenging is the financial reality. The Blue Jays likely can’t afford to keep both stars long-term.
Zach Pressnell of FanSided believes 2025 will be Bichette’s final season in Toronto regardless of performance, with a potential deadline trade if the team falls out of contention.
“With the Blue Jays expected to chase a mega-contract for Guerrero, it’s very unlikely they’ll be able to afford Bichette extension,” Pressnell wrote. “There have been a lot of reports indicating the Blue Jays are trying to extend Guerrero but no reports indicating they’re trying to extend Bichette.”
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That silence speaks volumes. If Toronto determines they can’t re-sign Bichette long-term, a trade becomes increasingly likely before he walks for nothing.
The way forward seems clear: Guerrero is the priority, but Toronto’s best play is making a serious playoff push in 2024. Success this season might convince either player that staying put is worth considering. It might also give the front office more clarity on which star to build around for the future.
For now, the Blue Jays have both players under contract, but the clock is ticking on making the difficult choice between two homegrown stars.
