Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette seemed destined to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr to lead a decade of great success in Toronto. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, things haven’t turned out that way at all.
While the Blue Jays were able to lock up Guerrero Jr. last month, it seems like the writing is on the wall for Bichette’s future. Even more incredibly, one prominent MLB Insider casts doubt about Bichette’s earning power, let alone future in Toronto, this offseason.
Jeff Passan is Concerned About Bo Bichette’s Lack of Power
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan discussed Bichette’s future on Sportsnet and shockingly admitted that Bichette may have already cost himself $200 million on his next contract. Passan said that Bichette doesn’t appear to have his trademark opposite-field power anymore. That rare power for a guy Bichette’s size (5’11”, 190 pounds) would have been a great trait to market in free agency.
"The ability at [Bo Bichette's] size to take the ball to the opposite field, over the fence… very rare quality for a shortstop… he had it and that part seems to more or less disappeared."@JeffPassan gauges Bo's 2025 season and his market with @SNJeffBlair & Kevin Barker. pic.twitter.com/1hSk5lrW22
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) May 9, 2025
However, that may be a thing of the past. Passan notes that without the power, teams are likely to be scared by Bichette’s inability to draw walks. Even in Bichette’s peak seasons, his walk rate was under 6%.
It’s a rough turn of events for Bichette. The Blue Jays selected him in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft. As Bichette played with Guerrero Jr. and infielder Cavan Biggio in Toronto’s minor league system, the organization dreamed of a future nucleus consisting of sons of former big leaguers. And as the trio developed in the minors, the Jays hoped they would be the next winning trio, replacing Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and Josh Donaldson.
Bichette became one of the top prospects in baseball, appearing in multiple Futures Games and winning the Midwest League’s Most Valuable Player Award. He eventually arrived in Toronto and became a two-time All-Star while leading the American League in hits on multiple occasions.
At 27 years old, Bichette’s glory days in Toronto appear to be over, though. He currently has a .678 OPS this season with only one home run. His hard hit percentage has declined from 50% in 2022 to 44% in 2024. His sprint speed rating has also declined over the last few years. At one point, it looked like Bichette would be a 20-20 player every year with the potential for even bigger seasons. However, his stolen bases have declined every season since stealing 25 in 2021.
Then there’s Bichette’s defense. Bichette is essentially an average to below-average fielder. According to the top defensive metrics, Bichette has posted negative 6 Outs Above Average and negative 3 Defensive Runs Saved over the last three seasons.
It’s fair to wonder if the injuries Bichette has dealt with have reduced his physical skills. And while he might fare better if he moves to second base, teams value second basemen less than shortstops. This will diminish his value and earning power, even if he becomes the best shortstop in the league.