TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 24: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on during Game One of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Toronto Blue Jays enjoyed a surprising run all the way to the World Series and came just short of earning their first championship in more than three decades.
The team ultimately lost to the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers in extra innings in a riveting Game 7 and now will have to continue their search for another World Series title next year. However, the team won’t look the same game forward.
The Blue Jays have some familiar faces set to return, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and Kevin Gausman. But several other key players will be testing the market in free agency and could leave, including Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer.
And the team’s biggest change could come at shortstop, with franchise star Bo Bichette set to test the market.
“Re-signing Bichette should be the top priority,” Gregor Chisholm wrote for the Toronto Star. “The two-time All-Star is on record saying he would like to return. The question is, do the Jays feel the same way?”
On Thursday morning, the team made a contract decision on Bichette’s as news leaked that it planned to extend a qualifying offer.
“Blue Jays are expected to make Bo Bichette a qualifying offer later today,” Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported. “Teams typically wait until the afternoon/evening to announce.”
The Blue Jays have little reason not to make the qualifying offer, though their decision to do so on Thursday was a clear indicator that they will not be announcing any kind of extension for Bichette before he officially becomes a free agent.
As of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, which is officially five days from the conclusion of the World Series, Major League Baseball teams hit the deadline for making qualifying offers to their eligible free agents. After that deadline, players like Bichette are officially free to negotiate and sign with any club.
By placing a qualifying offer on Bichette, the Blue Jays will ensure that they will receive some draft-pick compensation if Bichette rejects it and then leaves the team. And he’s sure to reject it, as it’s worth roughly $22 million for a one-year deal. The shortstop is going to find a long-term, nine-figure contract with the Blue Jays or a new team this winter.
All told, the Blue Jays’ decision to tender the qualifying offer on Bichette is not a great sign that he is likely to return.
