Bo Bichette declines qualifying offer from Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette has declined a qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays, meaning the major-league veteran of seven seasons will opt to choose his next deal from what he is offered on the open market.

Bichette, 27, has played with the Blue Jays for his entire career to date — and he could still return to play for Toronto, though the ballclub will have to compete against any other interested teams to secure his services for next year and beyond.

Qualifying offers are extended to certain eligible players entering free agency, as a method of ensuring teams receive draft-pick compensation should those players sign with a new team. Tuesday was the deadline for players to decide on whether to accept.

This year, Bichette was among nine players to decline qualifying offers from teams. Four major leaguers accepted such offers, which, for the 2026 season, were set at $22,025,000 US — a figure derived from the mean salary of the 125 best-paid players in Major League Baseball (MLB).

The four ballplayers to accept qualifying offers were starting pitcher Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres; Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff; and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham.

Along with Bichette, the MLB players who rejected qualifying offers were Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and his teammate, starter Ranger Suárez; San Diego Padres starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King; New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz; Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen; and Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez.

Bichette had a strong regular season with the Blue Jays, but a knee injury took him off the field for the final weeks of the pennant race.

He missed