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

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