Bo Bichette may not be putting together the season he envisioned with the New York Mets, but the former Blue Jays shortstop has found something else in New York: a chance to be the kind of veteran he once wanted in Toronto.
In a recent interview with Will Sammon of The Athletic, Bichette talked about settling into a leadership role with the Mets and forming a close bond with two of the club’s rookies, A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge. He’s been serving as a mentor to both players, and that role clearly means something to him.
"At times I wished I had a more established player along the way to kind of help me my first couple years," Bichette told The Athletic.
"As the season has gone on, the more time I spend here, the more I feel like a Met. ... They're a huge part of the future here, and I just want what's best for them."
"Eventually Marcus [Semien] came along and helped me a lot. I've always wanted to be ready to have an impact on guys going through their first year or two in the big leagues."
Bichette, 28, debuted with Toronto in the middle of the 2019 season. Based on his comments, he didn’t really feel that veteran hand on his shoulder until Marcus Semien arrived as a free agent in 2021. He and Semien connected quickly that season, and now they’re teammates again in New York.
That connection seems to have helped Bichette settle in with the Mets, too.
"As the season has gone on, the more time I spend here, the more I feel like a Met," Bichette said.
Bichette’s future in New York is already built into his deal. He signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets over the offseason, and it includes a player option for each year. He also has a player option that would let him become a free agent after this season if he chooses.
Even with that flexibility, it would be a surprise if Bichette walked away from the $42 million he’s owed next season, especially with the way this year has gone. He’s in the middle of the second-worst season of his career, hitting .264 with 14 home runs and 66 RBIs.
For Blue Jays fans, that’s a tough line to read. Toronto is sitting second-to-last in the league in runs scored, and Bichette’s bat would look awfully useful right about now. If he were still in a Blue Jays uniform, his 64 runs would rank second on the team behind only Kazuma Okamoto’s 69.
It's tough to see.
In Other News...
Blue Jays May Be About To Lose A Former Top Prospect
The Blue Jays made a notable roster shuffle by bringing back right-hander CJ Van Eyk and designating Simeon Woods Richardson for assignment, a move that speaks to how quickly the margin for young pitchers can shrink. Woods Richardson has been fighting through a rough stretch, and Torontos decision to make room points to a club still searching for stability on the pitching staff while trying to see what it has in Van Eyk.
Woods Richardson now goes on waivers, and because he is out of minor league options, any team that claims him would have to keep him on a major league roster. If he clears, he would have the choice to elect free agency, leaving the Blue Jays with a former top prospect at a crossroads and a bullpen/rotation depth picture that could change again before long. [Read more 🡒]
John Schneiders Future Just Became Part Of Torontos Playoff Race
The Blue Jays have spent much of 2026 in an uncomfortable middle ground, good enough to stay in the conversation but not quite secure enough to relax. At 65-70, Toronto is still hanging around the AL Wild Card picture, which means every stretch run result now carries extra weight not just for the roster, but for the manager steering it.
John Schneiders place in the discussion has become part of the backdrop, too. Sports Illustrateds Karl Rasmussen noted that a missed postseason could put Schneiders job in jeopardy even after he guided the club to the World Series in 2025, and his overall track record in Toronto has been solid over five seasons with three playoff trips. For a team still trying to turn contention into something more lasting, the next few weeks may say as much about the dugout as they do about the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Suddenly Need Anthony Santander Back More Than Ever
Anthony Santanders recovery has quietly become one of the Blue Jays most important storylines, even with the season already deep into its second half. The outfielder has been out all year after surgery to repair a labral tear in his left shoulder, and for a team with playoff ambitions, every update on his status has carried a little more weight than the last. Manager John Schneider said Santander is making progress, has been taking swings off a machine in Dunedin and is aiming to get to live pitching soon.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious: Santander was brought in to be a difference-maker, and he has played only 54 games since signing his five-year deal. The Blue Jays have had to move forward without him for months, but the possibility of getting him back before the end of 2026 changes the conversation around their stretch run. Even without a firm timetable, the fact that he is nearing the next phase of rehab gives the club a reason to keep one eye on the standings and another on Dunedin. [Read more 🡒]