Report: Bichette concerned about Rogers Centre's artificial turf
After being spurned by Kyle Tucker, the Toronto Blue Jays may return their attention to a reunion with Bo Bichette. However, their quest to keep the infielder may be facing a new obstacle.
Bichette - now the best free-agent bat remaining - privately expressed concerns about playing half of his remaining career games on Rogers Centre's artificial turf, sources told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. While not necessarily the deciding factor, it may play a role in his choice, Feinsand reports.
Rogers Centre's surface didn't prevent Bichette from breaking out as a star and a face of the franchise over the last seven seasons. The 27-year-old has led the AL in hits twice and was on his way to doing it again in 2025 before a sprained knee ended his regular season in early September.
Bichette's landed on the injured list with lower-body injuries during each of the last three seasons, including a right calf strain that limited him to 81 games in 2024 (last year's knee injury was unrelated to turf, as it was sustained in a home-plate collision at Yankee Stadium). If Bichette feels that artificial turf is exacerbating his leg issues, he might benefit from shifting to natural grass as he ages.
The two-time All-Star remains close with fellow star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after they rose through Toronto's farm system together, and Bichette was open about his desire to stay in Canada earlier this winter. It's unclear if the sides have talked recently.
Bichette is reportedly seeking a $300-million contract and has apparently told teams that he's open to moving off shortstop. It's unclear if the Blue Jays are open to meeting his price tag. Toronto also faces significant competition for his services, as Bichette reportedly had a positive meeting with the Philadelphia Phillies this week. The Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox are among the other teams who've been connected to him this winter.
If he returned to Toronto, Bichette would likely slide over to second base full time, as he did during the World Series. That would move Andrés Giménez to shortstop and likely push Ernie Clement into a super-utility role. Addison Barger, Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, and Anthony Santander would then be left to battle for at-bats in the corner outfield spots.
Clement would presumably become Toronto's everyday second baseman if Bichette signs elsewhere.
Even after missing out on Tucker and potentially losing Bichette, Toronto's enjoyed a productive offseason. The reigning AL champions inked Dylan Cease, arguably the top free-agent starting pitcher of this class, to a seven-year deal in December and signed reliever Tyler Rogers, corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto, and starter Cody Ponce to multi-year contracts.