Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette have been cornerstones of the Toronto Blue Jays’ rebuild for years - two homegrown stars who came up through the system together, shared the spotlight, and helped lead the team back into postseason relevance. But that era just took a major turn.
Bichette is heading to Queens.
On Friday, the news broke that Bo Bichette has signed a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets, where he’ll take over as their new third baseman. That’s a $42 million average annual value - a number Toronto wasn’t able to match, despite remaining in the mix until the end.
It’s a blow, no doubt. Bichette’s bat, glove, and leadership have been a big part of the Blue Jays’ identity. And while the front office is betting that Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto can step in and soften the loss, replacing Bichette’s presence - both on the field and in the clubhouse - won’t be easy.
Guerrero, who’s been as close to Bichette as anyone in the organization, opened up about the departure in a Friday night interview with Hazel Mae.
“Of course, I feel sad after playing with him for so many years,” Guerrero said. “But like I’ve always said, this is a business, and you have to look out for what’s best for you and your family.
I wish him the best. We won’t be teammates anymore, but our friendship will last forever.”
That quote says a lot. Guerrero and Bichette weren’t just teammates - they were the faces of a franchise that believed it could build a championship core from within.
For a while, it looked like that plan would stay intact long-term. But when Toronto locked up Guerrero with a massive $500 million extension back in April, Bichette didn’t get a similar offer.
That was the first real sign that the Blue Jays might not be able to keep both stars in the fold.
Bichette made sure he earned his payday, too. After a tough 2024 season and a knee injury that sidelined him for about a month late in the year, he came back strong - and made his presence felt in the World Series. That performance helped boost his value at just the right time, and the Mets were clearly willing to pay top dollar for a proven postseason performer.
Now the Blue Jays are left to regroup without one half of their dynamic duo. That Game 7, extra-innings loss in the World Series still stings, and the hope had been that the core would get another shot at redemption together. Instead, Guerrero will have to lead the charge solo - at least in terms of longtime running mates.
The business of baseball doesn’t always leave room for sentiment. But for Toronto fans, this one’s going to take a minute to process.
Bichette was more than just a name on the lineup card - he was part of the heartbeat of the team. And now, he’ll be suiting up in orange and blue.