The Los Angeles Dodgers rarely sit out when star talent becomes available, and this winter could be no different. With Mookie Betts stretched thin as a fill-in shortstop and the outfield in need of a shakeup, the Dodgers are expected to explore upgrades across the diamond. One name already surfacing as a potential fit is Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, whose breakout 2025 season has positioned him as one of the most intriguing free agents on the market.
Bichette didn’t sign his own extension last winter, a choice that has proven fortuitous. After a down year in 2024 marked by injuries and inconsistency, he has reestablished himself in 2025 as one of the American League’s most complete hitters. Through late August, he’s slashing .310/.354/.482 with 18 home runs, while leading baseball in hits and doubles. It’s a return to the All-Star form that twice saw him pace the AL in hits.
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Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report recently put Bichette’s market value in perspective:
“Between the lows of the last two seasons and his questionable defense at short, Bichette probably isn’t in line for a mega-contract worth, say, $300-plus million. But Willy Adames’ seven-year, $182 million deal should be within reach, and it’s a short hop between there and $200 million.”
That would put Bichette among the highest-paid shortstops in the league. And if the Blue Jays want to keep their left side of the infield intact for the next decade, they’ll likely need to spend north of $200 million this winter.
Dodgers Lurking as a Contender
While Toronto will be motivated to keep Bichette alongside Guerrero, other big-market clubs will be circling. FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently named the Los Angeles Dodgers as a team to watch, drawing a line between their outfield instability and Bichette’s availability.
“MLB does not need a salary cap,” Kline wrote. “The system is not ‘broken’ in the way cheap, small-market owners would have you believe. But if there’s anything we know about the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2026, it’s that their resources are endless and their sights will be set on just about any available star… Bichette might be a more realistic target.”
The Dodgers’ roster math makes the speculation logical. Six-time Gold Glove outfielder Mookie Betts has been pressed into shortstop duty this season, a temporary solution rather than a long-term fit. Michael Conforto’s struggles and Teoscar Hernández’s inconsistency have left the outfield thin, creating an opportunity to shift Betts back to the grass and pursue a permanent upgrade at shortstop.
“It shouldn’t be hard to move Betts to left field and install Bichette at shortstop full-time, where he can share the infield with the likes of Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Hyeseong Kim,” Kline added. “Los Angeles may ultimately balk at Bichette’s asking price — even the Dodgers need to be smart with their spending — but there isn’t a more desirable destination in MLB. If the Dodgers decide to throw their hat in the ring, it will be difficult for Bichette to say no. It’s the clearest path to World Series contention.”
A Fascinating Winter Ahead
The question now is not whether Bo Bichette will get paid, but how much — and by whom. Guerrero’s megadeal showed that Toronto can and will spend, but their payroll flexibility is being tested in ways it hasn’t before. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have never shied from chasing stars when the roster calls for it.
For Bichette, that could mean a choice between being part of Toronto’s continued rise in the American League or joining a perennial World Series favorite in Los Angeles. Either way, his resurgence this season has ensured that his name will dominate the offseason rumor mill.