Bo Bichette Rejects Blue Jays’ Qualifying Offer — Next Steps

The Toronto Blue Jays got some of the most expected news of the offseason on Tuesday. Bo Bichette officially declined the team’s qualifying offer and is out there for the taking in free agency right now. This was the obvious next step after Toronto tendered him the qualifying offer in the first place. There was never going to be a world in which the 27-year-old star infielder accepted a one-year deal worth just over $22 million. Bichette was one of nine players to officially decline the option. Four players accepted it: Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Detroit Tigers infielder Gleyber Torres and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham. Now that Bichette has declined the qualifying offer, what’s next? Well, it doesn’t change anything about the Blue Jays’ pursuit of him. It has been reported a multitude of times at this point that Toronto wants Bichette back. The fact that he declined the qualifying offer does nothing for the actual pursuit. What it does do is give the Blue Jays cover if he bolts. If Bichette signs elsewhere, the Blue Jays will get draft compensation in return. You can find the entire list of rules provided by MLB right here. Bichette is one of the hottest names on the open market and should cash in with a lucrative, nine-figure deal this offseason. If that isn’t with the Blue Jays, then they will get a draft pick in return, which wouldn’t immediately fill the hole left by the two-time All-Star. All in all, things went as expected on Tuesday. Now, all eyes are on Bichette and he can sign with a team at any time.
https://www.newsweek.com/bo-bichette-rejects-blue-jays-qualifying-offer-next-steps-11070444