The Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as one of baseball’s most surprising powerhouses and that’s setting up a major payday for one of the star contributors.
After missing the playoffs in a disappointing campaign last year, the Blue Jays returned this season to extend franchise slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a blockbuster contract and then seize first place in the American League East division. Now the team seems set for a return to the playoffs with a deep run potential ahead.
One of the biggest reasons for the turnaround has been the re-emergence of star shortstop Bo Bichette, who is slashing .298/.337/.471 after a harsh season from the plate last year. And as Bichette enjoys the resurgence and his team’s success, he’s setting himself up for a lucrative free agency at the end of the year.
“Bichette has shaken off a pedestrian start to the season and, more importantly, made last year’s lack of production in an injury-ruined campaign feel like a distant memory,” Steve Adams wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “If he sustains his absurd summer production (or anything close to it), he could push for $200MM or more.”
Adams added that Bichette is slashing an “otherworldly” .404/.449/.633 in the past month, and if contending teams believe he can provide that level of production for years to come, he could be in line to top the blockbuster contract recently signed by free agent shortstop Willy Adams — worth a total of $182 million from the San Francisco Giants.
Potential suitors in need of a shortstop could include the Atlanta Braves or Los Angeles Dodgers, though Bichette might also move to second base in the near future. But wherever he finds his long-term fit on defense, Blue Jays fans are surely hoping the team can keep him as a running mate for Guerrero, even if the cost is rising along with his recent success.
More MLB: Mookie Betts on Turning His Season Around for Dodgers: ‘This Season is Over’
The post Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette Gets $200M Contract Update Amid ‘Insane Summer Production’ appeared first on Newsweek.
