With runners on the corners and Recreation 7 of the World Collection nonetheless scoreless within the third inning, Bo Bichette created a frenzy on Saturday evening when he unloaded on a dangling slider from Shohei Ohtani.
A no-doubter off the bat, Bichette pimped the three-run homer as Rogers Centre — and chunk of Canada’s inhabitants — misplaced its collective thoughts. It was a signature second in what could have been Bichette’s final sport with the one group he’s ever identified, even when the Dodgers finally got here again and gained their second straight Fall Basic with an 11-inning thriller.
With Los Angeles victorious, Bichette, now formally a free agent, discovered himself addressing his future as an alternative of celebrating after the sport.
“I’ve said I wanted to be here from the beginning,” the 27-year-old, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2016, instructed reporters.
Bichette, who hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 house runs and 94 RBI within the common season earlier than an ankle harm restricted his postseason to the World Collection, is without doubt one of the finest out there gamers on the open market this winter. He additionally isn’t the one Blue Jays free agent who may go away a workforce that tortured the Yankees all 12 months, beat the Bombers for an AL East title with a tiebreaker and gained a pennant after knocking the pinstripers out within the ALDS.
Toronto may lose three members of its rotation, as Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer – intent on persevering with his profession regardless of being 41 – are already free brokers. Shane Bieber can be part of them if he declines his $16 million participant choice.
Seranthony Domínguez, a key member of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, can be a free agent, as are function gamers Ty France and former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
In fact, the Blue Jays will nonetheless have loads of expertise even when they lose their high free brokers, together with face of the franchise and playoff sensation Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, George Springer, Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage, who dominated the Yankees within the ALDS. And with Toronto exhibiting a willingness to spend however failing to land elite gamers in years previous, the workforce has the monetary may to retain Bichette and different in-house free brokers whereas including to a roster that fell one win wanting a title.
Talking of monetary may, the Dodgers — who beat the Yankees within the 2024 World Collection and are at present the one workforce with higher odds than the Bombers to win all of it in 2026, per a number of sportsbooks — have seven free brokers. The group consists of Michael Conforto, Andrew Heaney, Kiké Hernández, Michael Kopech, Miguel Rojas, Kirby Yates and the retiring Clayton Kershaw.
Los Angeles additionally has membership choices for Max Muncy and Alex Vesia.
As for the Yankees, eight of their gamers formally turned free brokers on Sunday: Paul Blackburn, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, Amed Rosario, Austin Slater, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams and Ryan Yarbrough.
Cody Bellinger is predicted to hitch the group when he declines a $25 million participant choice. The Yankees even have workforce choices for Tim Hill ($3 million and prone to be exercised) and Jonathan Loáisiga ($5 million and prone to be declined).
Bo In The Bronx?
Whereas loads of Yankees followers will insist Anthony Volpe shouldn’t be the workforce’s beginning shortstop when he returns from shoulder surgical procedure early subsequent season, don’t count on the workforce to pursue Bichette.
A proficient hitter, he was baseball’s worst defensive shortstop by way of Outs Above Common (-13), Defensive Runs Saved (-12), and Fielding Run Worth (-10) this 12 months. Volpe, who endured important defensive regression in 2025, ranked seventeenth in OAA (-7), eleventh in DRS (2) and 18th in FRV (-5), however the 2023 Gold Glove winner was a a lot stronger defender in his first two seasons.
With Bichette doubtlessly having to maneuver off shortstop and poised for a dear payday, the remainder of the free agent market restricted, and Volpe nonetheless low-cost, incumbent utilityman José Caballero is at present the almost definitely candidate to begin at brief for the Yanks on Opening Day.
Cole Returns To The Mound
Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgical procedure) returned to the mound not too long ago, as he posted an Instagram video of himself throwing a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium over the weekend.
Aaron Boone mentioned Cole would get again on the mound quickly when he spoke on the Yankees’ postmortem press convention on Oct. 16. The supervisor added that Cole will then “de-load” after just a few weeks, and he’ll meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache just a few instances earlier than spring coaching.
Cole will not be an choice for Opening Day, however Boone is hoping to see him activated shortly thereafter.
