The Toronto Blue Jays and Bo Bichette are now officially on the clock.

One of the most beloved players in recent team memory, Bichette appears set to hit free agency for the first time in his career.

On Thursday, the Jays formally extended a standard qualifying offer to Bichette, though it’s widely been reported he’s expected to decline that offer and test out free agency.

Why would Bichette turn down the Blue Jays’ offer?

For starters, it’s a simple numbers game: Bichette’s qualifying offer comes in at $22 million valuation for just one season, a number lower than his expected annual salary on any multi-year deal.

It has nothing to do with his willingness to play in Toronto — which he’s said on the record many times — but rather about his intent to sign a long-term deal in free age

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