The 2025 Toronto Blue Jays are on top of the American League East. And a big reason for that is the spectacular performance of their star shortstop, who is enjoying a strong comeback season, batting .282 with 114 hits, 12 home runs, and 55 RBIs. But hey, he is also entering the final year of his contract and is on track for free agency after this season. His recent emotional words have only intensified the buzz.
We are talking about Bo Bichette, who is at a career crossroads. The 27-year-old suffered through a disastrous, injury-plagued 2024 season, where he hit just .225. But his comeback in 2025 has changed the scenario. Projections have risen from a possible post-injury discount to a $200 million monster amount.
Bichette’s recent form, along with his statement that he wants to “play with Vladdy forever,” has turned public sentiment in his favor as well. He opened up about his feelings while talking to Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae recently. When asked to compare the current Blue Jays squad to the past teams, he said flatly: “This is the best team I’ve ever been on.”
Asked Bo Bichette how he would compare this 2025 Blue Jays squad to ones he was a part of in the past:
“This is the best team I’ve ever been on.”
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) July 22, 2025
Bichette also raved about the electric atmosphere in the stands. “This is what I remember watching on TV when I was 17 years old at home, with Bautista and Donaldson,” he said, referencing the 2015 season, which holds a special place in Blue Jays’ history.
In 2015, Toronto broke a 22-year playoff drought and captivated the fanbase. Their offense, led by AL MVP Josh Donaldson, was a juggernaut. They finished with 232 home runs and a 117 OPS. That season also saw the iconic ‘Bat Flip’ from slugger José Bautista.
The 2016 squad also provided a powerful encore performance with a final record of 89-73. They finished with the tally of 221 homers with Edwin Encarnación hitting 42 of them. He also finished first in the AL in RBIs with a tally of 127. He created his own legendary moment with a walk-off ‘Bat Drop’ home run in the AL Wild Card game.
The Blue Jays of 2025 are, however, different. With 105 home runs, they rank 18th. They are good at getting on base via walks and are second in on-base percentage, while recording the lowest strikeout rate in the majors. But, they are also confronting a weakness that threatens to derail their championship aspirations.
What’s Blue Jays Achilles’ heel?
The Blue Jays’ biggest issue is on the mound. The starting pitching has been a major liability, while the offense grinds its way to victories. The starters have a 4.60 earned run average, which ranks a woeful 25th in Major League Baseball. The high-profile signing of Max Scherzer was complicated by injury. But he is back on the mound and showing some form.
But Bowden Francis, a promising arm, has struggled badly with the long ball, giving up 12 homers in his first eight starts, displaying a lack of rotation depth.
Not even the team’s veterans have stood out. Kevin Gausman (4.01 ERA) and Chris Bassitt (3.89 ERA) have ERAs worse than their career ERAs. Southpaw Eric Lauer has been a pleasant surprise, though with a 2.80 ERA, but relying on one performer is a risky bet. This inconsistency has placed an immense strain on the bullpen. The relief corps has been a strength, ranking second in the league in strikeouts. But they have also been overworked.
And, it has created problems with the team’s key setup man, Yimi García, now dealing with ulnar nerve symptoms, the same ailment that troubled him last season, too. This leaves a hole, and although closer Jeff Hoffman has looked dominant, the front office cannot afford to stand pat.
The path forward is clear: Toronto must be aggressive at the trade deadline and acquire high-impact pitching to support the team Bichette loves so much. There are some interesting options in the market to reinforce the pitching staff. A workhorse, such as Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller, for the rotation could settle things.
The Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly has playoff experience and has pitched well of late, with a 2.72 ERA in his last nine starts. In the bullpen, established closers like David Bednar of the Pirates or Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals could reshape the late innings. Who do you think they should go for?
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