Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette grew up together in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization.
Now, though, Vladdy has to say goodbye. Bichette is leaving for the New York Mets.
The news emerged midday Friday that Bichette had signed a three-year, $126 million contract to be the Mets’ new third baseman.
Toronto had still been in pursuit but evidently couldn’t match that $42 million per year offer.
The Blue Jays’ lineup shouldn’t suffer too incredibly, as long as Japanese signee Kazuma Okamoto is as advertised. It’s still a tough loss.
Guerrero spoke with Blue Jays reporter Hazel Mae on Friday evening to share a few thoughts:
“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. I wish him the best. We won’t be teammates anymore, but our friendship will last forever.”
For a long time, it seemed the Blue Jays would have the chance to extend both Guerrero and Bichette in one fell swoop.
But when Toronto handed out a $500 million contract to Vladdy in April, Bichette didn’t get a deal of his own. That always set up this possibility.
Bichette bounced back from a rough 2024, and a knee injury that kept him out for about a month at the end of the season didn’t stop him from returning and making an impact in the World Series.
Now, though, he won’t be sticking around to help Toronto try to do better than that Game 7 extra innings loss. Guerrero will have to do it without him.
Guerrero’s reaction reflected that truth. He spoke about the emptiness of the clubhouse, about how certain routines no longer felt the same. The jokes, the looks across the dugout, the unspoken understanding built over years—all gone in a single transaction.
Baseball is full of goodbyes, but some hit deeper than others, and this one clearly did.
What stood out most was that Guerrero didn’t try to hide his disappointment. He didn’t frame it as motivation or fuel. He simply admitted that it hurt. In doing so, he gave fans permission to feel the same way. Sometimes, honesty resonates more than resilience slogans ever could.
At the same time, Guerrero didn’t sound bitter. There was respect in his words, an understanding that Bichette made the choice he believed was right for his career. That balance—between pain and acceptance—is difficult to strike, yet Guerrero managed it naturally.
He spoke like someone who understands that loyalty and ambition often collide, and that neither side is wrong.
