"I'll use Shohei Ohtani as example" - Blue Jays insider frames Bo Bichette's free agency with Dodgers superstar reference

Toronto Blue Jays insider Keegan Matheson believes that Bo Bichette's free agency will follow the same pattern as the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes. Matheson acknowledges multiple teams will show interest in Bichette, but he claims only a few who can meet a specific financial floor will remain in the running.

Matheson is MLB.com's Blue Jays reporter and has been covering the team since 2017. He shared his thoughts about Bichette's free agency on Wednesday's episode of "Toronto Sports Rush" with sportscaster Dan O'Toole.

"I'll use Shohei Ohtani as an example, he's the ultimate example," Matheson said (Timestamp: 12:12). "Early on, teams came to understand with Ohtani that to even get a seat at the table, you're going to need to put 500 million bucks down as where you're willing to go with an offer."

"So, a few teams did. The Dodgers, the Blue Jays, the Angels, and I think a couple others said, 'Okay, we'll go as far as 500 million,'" he added. "Maybe if you're Bo’s agent, you're saying, 'Hey, we want 25 mil a year. If you're willing to talk about that, come speak to us.'"

Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers for a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. $680 million of the contract is deferred, meaning Ohtani's salary is $2 million per year. The Japanese star will get paid $68 million per year from 2034 to 2043.

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Keegan Matheson believes the Blue Jays need Bo Bichette

In the same conversation with Dan O'Toole on "Toronto Sports Rush," Keegan Matheson warned that the Blue Jays can't afford to miss both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker.

"We can't let the World Series and the playoff run shape how we view the entire season," Matheson said (Timestamp: 13:25). "Players like Clement, like Barger, anyone below Vladdy, who had that incredible playoff run, yes, that showed something, yes, it mattered. But the Blue Jays can't bet on their offense being that good in the regular season."

Therefore, Matheson suggested the Blue Jays acquire either Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker, whose contract projections are around $400 million. If not, the insider named Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte as a trade option.

ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan predicted a 40% chance that the Diamondbacks would trade away Marte. The 32-year-old switch-hitter has five years and $91 million remaining in his contract. Passan named the Pirates, Giants, Phillies, Mariners, Royals, Athletics and Mets as good fits for Marte.