Even as 2025 comes to an end, the Toronto Blue Jays still reportedly retain hope that their 27-year-old two-time All-Star free agent shortstop Bo Bichette will return to them. But the Blue Jays already carry seven contracts with average annual values over $15 million.
Toronto also heads into 2026 with the third-highest projected payroll in baseball ($272 million), per Fangraphs. Whether they are prepared to add another contract of more than $20 million per year, as Bichette is predicted to receive, looks increasingly doubtful.
Multiple Rivals Linked to Bichette Deal
In addition, other teams are showing heightened interest in Bichette, according to recent media reports. The San Francisco Giants are the latest franchise linked to a possible Bichette signing.
The Seattle Mariners, who lost infielder Jorge Polanco to the New York Mets, and the Boston Red Sox, who appear to be losing the race to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman, have also been named as destinations that make sense for Bichette.
But if they lose Bichette, Toronto has already been working on a backup plan, even if only as a stopgap measure â a plan that comes with proven power at the plate.
26-Year-Old Veteran Impresses in Winter Ball
In November, the Blue Jays made an under-the-radar free agent signing, picking up Rodolfo Castro, a shortstop who in limited major league experience over three seasons has blasted a home run every 25.7 at-bats. That’s actually better than Bichette, who over seven full seasons has knocked one out of the park every 27.7 at-bats.
Castro’s rate, extended over a single full season, would have ranked him sixth among all MLB shortstops in 2025, just behind the Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson, who hit a home run once every 24.6 at-bats. MLB leader Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels put one out every 19.3 at-bats.
In the recently completed Dominican Winter League season, Castro showed no drop-off in his home run production. He led all shortstops in the six-team league with six home runs, tied for fourth among all players despite playing for his team, Estrellas Orientales, in only 27 of their 50 games.
Castro Noted For ‘Immense Power’
Castro’s home run rate in the DWL season of 16.5 ranked second in the league only to his teammate, 32-year-old former Minnesota Twins corner infielder Miguel Sanó, whose nine homers in 89 at-bats gave him an eye-popping rate of one every 9.9 at-bats.
When Castro signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015 out of the Dominican Republic for a modest $150,000 bonus, âwhile he wasnât initially touted as a top prospect, he was recognized as a switch-hitter with immense power potential,â according to Pirates FanSided writer Bryce Naughton.
When the shortstop finally got his call-up to Pittsburgh in 2021, âCastroâs MLB career commenced with a historic feat. His first five hits were all home runs, setting a Pirates record and making him the first player in the modern era since 1900 to achieve such a remarkable start,â according to Naughton.
While Castro has often struggled in other areas outside of pure power, his performance in the DWL at least showed promise of becoming a more polished hitter. His 26 RBI also led all shortstops in the league, and he posted an OPS of .787, notably better than his career mark in the Dominican Winter League of .662. In the majors, Castroâs career OPS stands at .672, but the Blue Jays clearly hope that at his still-young age, his development is not complete and he could be primed for a breakout season.
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