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DUNEDIN, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 21: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays waits to take batting practice before a Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at TD Ballpark on February 21, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Toronto Blue Jays are set to open the season with a stronger roster than the one that made it all the way into extra innings of Game 7 in the World Series last year.<\/p>\n
The team has focused on adding win-now talent to their group, bringing in the likes of Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers, Cody Ponce and Kazuma Okamoto. And former Cy Young Award winners Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer will be returning after some shots at free agency as well.<\/p>\n
But even though the team is stronger on paper thanks to those additions, the Blue Jays also suffered a significant offseason loss when long-time shortstop Bo Bichette left for a new contract with the New York Mets.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was farewell to the only franchise Bichette had ever known, a departure finalized as the 28-year-old infielder agreed on Friday to a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets,\u201d The Athletic\u2019s Mitch Bannon wrote<\/a> of the exit. \u201cIt was goodbye, as well, to a period of Blue Jays baseball built around a pair of long-haired prospects, Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., that allowed a fanbase to again dream of real success.\u201d<\/p>\n ForbesYankees\u2019 Anthony Volpe Offers 4-Word Response On Fall From GraceBy Peter Chawaga<\/a>Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training Feels \u2018Off\u2019 For Vladimir Guerrero Jr Without Bo Bichette<\/p>\n The Blue Jays will look to replace Bichette by moving Andres Gimenez to shortstop and Ernie Clement to second base. And Okamoto promises to bring another impact bat from the infield. But Bichette\u2019s long-time role on the team and particularly his relationship with franchise slugger Guerrero will be impossible to replicate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first week was a little bit off because I\u2019ve played with him since (I was) 17 years old,\u201d Guerrero told MLB Network Radio<\/a> of his Spring Training without Bichette so far. \u201cIt was a little bit off, but you\u2019ve got to understand this is business\u2026 He wanted the best for his family and we\u2019ve got to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n