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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. breaks silence on Bo Bichette signing with Mets.
The Toronto Blue Jays were dealt some bad news on Friday as Bo Bichette departed the team to sign with the New York Mets in free agency.
Bichette had spent his entire career in Toronto up until this point. And, he was close friends with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as they went through the system together. Bichette had said he wanted to play his entire career alongside Guerrero.
Yet, that won’t happen. After Bichette signed with the Mets, Guerrero spoke to Sportsnet reporter Hazel Mae and shared his feelings on Bichette’s departure.
“Of course, I feel sad after playing with him for so many years, but like I’ve always said, this is a business, and you have to look out for what’s best for you and your family,” Guerrero said about Bichette. “I wish him the best. We won’t be teammates anymore, but our friendship will last forever.”
It’s a heartfelt message from Guerrero as he’s sad to see Bichette leave the Blue Jays. But, as Guerrero said, the two will remain close friends even though they aren’t playing with one another.
Bichette Wanted to Spend Entire Career with Guerrero
When Toronto signed Guerrero as an International Free Agent and drafted Bichette, the two were expected to be cornerstones of the franchise.
In September of 2024, Bichette said he wanted to spend his entire career with Guerrero. As well as bringing a championship back to Toronto.
“When I had time to think about what I want, basically, my ultimate goal really is to play with Vladdy (Guerrero Jr.) forever. To win a championship with him. And to do that with this organization,” Bichette said to Sportsnet. “I’m 100 per cent committed to doing whatever it takes to accomplish those things. That’s where I’m at.”
Bichette said he and Guerrero spoke since they were teenagers about bringing a championship to the Blue Jays.
“We’ve talked since we were 18 years old in low-A. We’ve looked at each other every single year and told each other that we want to be together forever and win as many championships as we can,” said Bichette. “What I’m focused on now is how do we get back to who we are here.”
Ultimately, the goal fell just short as the Blue Jays lost in Game 7 of the World Series.
What’s Next for Blue Jays?
Toronto has had a very active offseason, but after losing out on Tucker and Bichette, the team could make another move.
Yet, Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet believes the team is likely done making big moves.
“Barring a scenario in which the Blue Jays swoop in on Bellinger and out-bid the Yankees for his services, their major off-season moves are now done. Meaning an off-season that started with a record deal for Dylan Cease would end a little anticlimactically,” Nicholson-Smith wrote.
There is a chance Toronto goes out and makes a trade or signs a relief pitcher. But the heavy lifting of the offseason is done.
Despite losing out on Bichette and Tucker, the Blue Jays are tied for the fourth-best odds of winning the World Series at +1500.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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