With runners on the corners and Game 7 of the World Series still scoreless in the third inning, Bo Bichette created a frenzy on Saturday night when he unloaded on a hanging slider from Shohei Ohtani.
A no-doubter off the bat, Bichette pimped the three-run homer as Rogers Centre — and a good chunk of Canada’s population — lost its collective mind. It was a signature moment in what may have been Bichette’s last game with the only organization he’s ever known, even if the Dodgers eventually came back and won their second straight Fall Classic with an 11-inning thriller.
With Los Angeles victorious, Bichette, now officially a free agent, found himself addressing his future instead of celebrating after the game.
“I’ve said I wanted to be here from the beginning,” the 27-year-old, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2016, told reporters.
Bichette, who hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in the regular season before an ankle injury limited his postseason to the World Series, is one of the best available players on the open market this winter. He also isn’t the only Blue Jays free agent who could leave a team that tortured the Yankees all year, beat the Bombers for an AL East title with a tiebreaker and won a pennant after knocking the pinstripers out in the ALDS.
Toronto could lose three members of its rotation, as Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer – intent on continuing his career despite being 41 – are already free agents. Shane Bieber can join them if he declines his $16 million player option.
Seranthony Domínguez, a key member of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, is also a free agent, as are role players Ty France and former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Of course, the Blue Jays will still have plenty of talent even if they lose their top free agents, including face of the franchise and playoff sensation Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, George Springer, Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage, who dominated the Yankees in the ALDS. And with Toronto showing a willingness to spend but failing to land elite players in years past, the team has the financial might to retain Bichette and other in-house free agents while adding to a roster that fell one win short of a title.
Speaking of financial might, the Dodgers — who beat the Yankees in the 2024 World Series and are currently the only team with better odds than the Bombers to win it all in 2026, per several sportsbooks — have seven free agents. The group includes Michael Conforto, Andrew Heaney, Kiké Hernández, Michael Kopech, Miguel Rojas, Kirby Yates and the retiring Clayton Kershaw.
Los Angeles also has club options for Max Muncy and Alex Vesia.
As for the Yankees, eight of their players officially became free agents on Sunday: Paul Blackburn, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, Amed Rosario, Austin Slater, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams and Ryan Yarbrough.
Cody Bellinger is expected to join the group when he declines a $25 million player option. The Yankees also have team options for Tim Hill ($3 million and likely to be exercised) and Jonathan Loáisiga ($5 million and likely to be declined).
Bo In The Bronx?
While plenty of Yankees fans will insist Anthony Volpe shouldn’t be the team’s starting shortstop when he returns from shoulder surgery early next season, don’t expect the team to pursue Bichette.
A talented hitter, he was baseball’s worst defensive shortstop in terms of Outs Above Average (-13), Defensive Runs Saved (-12), and Fielding Run Value (-10) this year. Volpe, who endured significant defensive regression in 2025, ranked 17th in OAA (-7), 11th in DRS (2) and 18th in FRV (-5), but the 2023 Gold Glove winner was a much stronger defender in his first two seasons.
With Bichette potentially having to move off shortstop and poised for a pricey payday, the rest of the free agent market limited, and Volpe still cheap, incumbent utilityman José Caballero is currently the most likely candidate to start at short for the Yanks on Opening Day.
Cole Returns To The Mound
Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) returned to the mound recently, as he posted an Instagram video of himself throwing a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium over the weekend.
Aaron Boone said Cole would get back on the mound soon when he spoke at the Yankees’ postmortem press conference on Oct. 16. The manager added that Cole will then “de-load” after a few weeks, and he’ll meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache a few times before spring training.
Cole is not an option for Opening Day, but Boone is hoping to see him activated shortly thereafter.
