Bo Bichette has officially declined the Toronto Blue Jays' qualifying offer of $22.025 million for the upcoming season. This decision allows the two-time All-Star to explore free agency and seek a more lucrative contract on the open market. Bichette, 27, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Blue Jays and remains a top priority for the team this offseason.

By extending the qualifying offer, the Blue Jays are eligible for draft-pick compensation if Bichette signs with another team. He is among twelve players who received the offer, with four players accepting it before the 4 p.m. deadline. Those who accepted include New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Detroit Tigers infielder Gleyber Torres, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff, and Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga.

Bichette's performance in the 2025 season was impressive, as he tied for second in Major League Baseball with 181 hits, despite missing the final month due to a right knee injury. Projections suggest that his next contract could be worth between $250 million over eight to ten years. Teams such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves have already shown interest in him, with some willing to play him at his preferred position of shortstop.

In contrast, fellow Blue Jays player Shane Bieber opted to pick up his player option for the 2026 season, which will pay him $16 million. This decision allows Bieber to avoid the uncertainty of free agency for now, as he aims for a more significant contract next offseason.

Bichette's decision to decline the offer reflects his confidence in his abilities, especially after a season that many consider an outlier. He has already demonstrated his value, and teams are not deterred by the potential need to forfeit a draft pick to sign him.

In addition to Bichette's situation, the Blue Jays have made moves to protect their prospects ahead of the upcoming Rule 5 draft. They added left-hander Ricky Tiedemann to their 40-man roster to prevent him from being selected by another team. The deadline for teams to protect certain players was 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Tiedemann, once regarded as the Blue Jays' top prospect, has faced challenges due to injuries but is expected to be healthy by spring training.

Several notable prospects remain unprotected and eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft, including Triple-A infielder Josh Kasevich, Triple-A outfielder Yohendrick Pinango, Class-A catcher Edward Duran, and Double-A outfielder Victor Arias. The Rule 5 draft is scheduled for December 10 during MLB's annual winter meetings.