Bo Bichette reveals ‘ultimate goal’ with Blue Jays future up in the air

The shortstop wants to 'play with Vladdy forever'

Published Sep 09, 2024  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

Toronto Blue Jays Bo Bichette, left, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ham it up in the dugout during Spring Training. The Canadian Press

Amidst a season that has gone off the rails for both himself and his team, Bo Bichette opened up about his future with the Blue Jays and his relationship with star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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Speaking this past weekend from Truist Park in Atlanta, where the Blue Jays were taking on the Braves, Bichette revealed his “ultimate goal” with his contract that is set to expire after the 2025 season.

“When I had time to think about what I want, basically my ultimate goal really is to play with Vladdy (Guerrero Jr.) forever, to win a championship with him and to do that with this organization,” Bichette said, according to Sportsnet. “I’m 100% committed to doing whatever it takes to accomplish those things. That’s where I’m at.”

With his contract nearing its end, Bichette and Guerrero both had their names come up in trade rumours ahead of the deadline in July.

And while Bichette has talked about his desire to stay with the franchise in the past, this marked the first time he has expressed it publicly in such definitive fashion.

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Guerrero Jr., who also will see his current contract expire following the 2025 season, has expressed similar feelings about his desire to stay a Blue Jay.

Getting both Bichette and Guerrero to sign extensions this off-season will be a priority for the club, or the team could be forced to trade one or both of the two young studs – or risk losing them for nothing after the 2025 season.

Bichette was very clear about what his goals are for his future with the team.

“I want to win, first off,” he said, adding that he wants to do it “with Vladdy, for this organization.

“We’ve talked since we were 18 years old in low-A, we’ve looked at each other every single year and told each other that we want to be together forever and win as many championships as we can,” Bichette said. “From my point of view, what I’m focused on now is how do we get back to who we are here.”

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Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette reacts after injuring himself in the sixth inning during a game against the Tigers at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Friday, July 19, 2024. Photo by Vaughn Ridley /Getty Images

Bichette has had a rocky season, to say the least. The two-time all-star has hit just .222 this year, well below his career batting average of .290. He has played in just 80 games due to a calf strain and has played once since July 10.

He’ll begin a rehab assignment with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday, with manager John Schneider suggesting the shortstop play in at least four or five games, putting him on a  path for a potential return to the big leagues this weekend.

The shortstop says this season’s struggles have helped him learn where he can improve his game, both on and off the field.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about myself through failure, whether that be on the field or maybe not feeling like I led as good as I should have, just a lot of reflection seeing what I can do better,” he told Rogers-owned Sportsnet. “I can do better on the field, but I also can do better off the field, in the clubhouse, everything. I’m just looking forward to having an opportunity to do better.”

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Bichette is champing at the bit for the opportunity to get back on the field and have the chance to “feel like myself.”

“If I didn’t get back on the field, I don’t know where I would be mentally,” he said. “Obviously I would be fine after four months at home, but I’ll be closing the loop on that, getting back on the field and knowing that I’m good. The results are going to be what they are from the season and from the two-week stretch.

“But I just want to get back on the field, feel like myself. If the results look great, if they don’t, it is what it is, can’t really fix the season at this point. So I’m just trying to get back on the field, feel like myself, healthy and get ready for a good off-season.” 

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And while it was tough to see the team be a seller at the trade deadline and ship many veteran pieces out of the door, it gave the franchise a chance to bounce back from a poor season.

“A lot of times you have to hit a low place to really figure out who you are, whether that be as a player or an organization, whatever it is, and I think (the deadline pickups) give us a strong opportunity to bounce back stronger than we’ve been before,” Bichette said. “I’m looking forward to that and I’m looking forward to seeing what everybody thinks is the right path for us to take, whatever moves those may be.

“There are a lot of young kids here showing a lot of good things and it’s been exciting to watch them.”

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