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The Toronto Blue Jays have already landed a long-term win, even as the calendar barely breaks into May.
After missing a spring training deadline to lock in homegrown slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a new contract, the team surprised the baseball world by announcing it had reached a deal with him just a few games into the season.
The Blue Jays agreed to give Guerrero $500 million over 14 years, including a $325 million signing bonus. That decision establishes a franchise cornerstone for the team and gives them something to build around for the next decade plus. But it might also mean the loss of another promising young player in the meantime.
As the Blue Jays sit below .500 and in third place in the competitive American League East division, it seems they could miss the playoffs for the second straight season. And that would push them to sell before it’s too late, according to Zach Pressnell of FanSided.
“Whether they’re competitive at the trade deadline or not, you can expect the Blue Jays to shop shortstop Bo Bichette this season,” Pressnell wrote. “Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays trade Bo Bichette before the trade deadline.”
At this point in his career, Bichette seems to have the mix of potential and struggles that make him a tantalizing change-of-scenery candidate. And as a shortstop, he would offer some unique defensive skills for a contending team.
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He’s earned All-Star nods in two of his seven big-league seasons so far, but saw a sharp dip at the plate in the 2024 campaign. So far in 2025, he’s slashing .293/.326/.368 — making good contact but without a homer yet.
He’s also headed for free agency at the end of the year, so the Blue Jays could look to extract some value by trading him before he negotiates with other teams in the offseason. And after granting $500 million to their franchise slugger, the Blue Jays might be running out of payroll room for Bichette.
“With Vladdy landing such a luxurious deal, it’s very unlikely the Blue Jays fork up another couple hundred million dollars to land a long-term extension for Bichette,” Pressnell wrote. “It’s always seemed like the Blue Jays would only have the money to pay one of the two, and it looks like it’s only going to be Guerrero Jr.”
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)