Examining a contract extension for Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and the importance of extending homegrown talent

Bichette’s tools have always been a high-risk-high-reward profile. He will strike out and swing aggressively and while that approach may not pay off at all times, it does eventually even out and contribute to his batting average and results. At his height, he can be a weapon in the lineup who can successfully pressure opposing pitchers but on the flip side, opponents have started to figure out his weaknesses and effectively capitalize on them while nullifying his skill sets. 

Taking a risk isn’t exactly in the Blue Jays’ blood – their front office prefers to take measured approaches. This has prevented it from considering an earlier extension with younger players and making multiple blockbuster moves at the trade deadline. To its credit, the front office has been more forward on the risk front when they brought in key players during the offseason and a couple of trade deadlines when the team was close to the playoffs. But ultimately, when the front office failed to extend Guerrero Jr. before the Spring Training, the future of the organization became even more murkier than it was heading into the winter. Without the Blue Jays’ youngsters in their plan moving forward, their future will inevitably become bleaker. This is partially the reason why Toronto has to look into extending Bichette even though it defies the front office’s philosophy.

To put it bluntly, the Blue Jays are at a crossroad and are facing a closing contention window. If the team lets its young stars head into their free agency after the 2025 season, they will be caught in the middle without any clear answers to their future. If they have an intention of bringing some stability, extending Bichette is one of the remaining options on the table. 

The front office can’t always resort to a values-based mindset if they are interested in competing long term in a tough division. The Boston Red Sox in their heydays made aggressive moves under Dave Dombrowski and the New York Yankees continue to improve their team each winter to try and contend. At some point, taking on more risks is the only answer to becoming a more competitive team, and the one area the Jays have lacked in is extending their homegrown star players, at least as of late. Unfortunately, it appears the Blue Jays and Bichette have not discussed a deal in some time. 

Blue Jays and their lack of homegrown extensions

In addition, the additional flaw adding to the whole scenario is the Blue Jays’ lack of a sustainable farm system – there simply aren’t enough talents pounding down the door, especially on the pitching front. Free agency can only bring so many players who can help compete; teams need to grow competent young stars to build a solid foundation to find success, unless you can spend like the Dodgers or Mets. 

The Blue Jays have to buy time to rectify their system and process and an extension is the only path they can use to spare them from their seemingly somber future ahead. Bichette and an extension contract could age terribly, but he still has skills and youth to offer. Every extension will have its downsides but it’s still far safer than signing a long-term deal with new free agents. In other words, facing something familiar is much better than confronting the unknown.

If the Blue Jays are interested in contending for more than one year, they have to bet on someone they know and that player has to be Bichette if they can’t reach an agreement with Guerrero Jr.’s camp. The extension may come back to haunt them at some point and it most likely will. But what choice do they have when the future is on the line?