Bo Bichette a hot topic with AL East rivals following Kazuma Okamoto deal with the Toronto Blue Jays

Following the Blue Jays' run to the World Series, it felt like fait accompli that Bichette would return to Toronto. But here we are in 2026 and the two-time All-Star remains unsigned.

Last month, Bichette's camp let clubs know that he would be willing to move to second base, news that potentially opened his market to more suitors.

The Boston Red Sox, who have Trevor Story at shortstop, have already met with Bichette via zoom call, though it may come down to whether Boston prefers him to Bregman.

Bichette's future may be tied directly to what happens with Bregman, and now that the Blue Jays signed Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year $60 million contract, Toronto is presumably out on Alex Bregman.

Okamoto arrives as a middle-of-the-order bat with a long track record.

The 28-year-old hit .327 with 15 home runs and a .416 on-base percentage in 69 games last season for the Yomiuri Giants before an elbow injury ended his year.

Bichette is coming off a strong 2025 season of his own, batting .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, and an .840 OPS, despite missing most of September and October.

His underlying contact quality remained strong, with a hard-hit rate near 50 percent and one of the lowest strikeout rates among everyday infielders.

Toronto is the only club that won't have to give up Draft picks to sign Bichette could bring him back for second base, where he played during the World Series, shifting Andrés Giménez to shortstop.

The New York Yankees have also checked in on Bichette.

The Yankees are built to absorb a qualifying-offer free agent and can be flexible with Bichette defensively.

Shortstop is also an option for Bichette in the short term as Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery.

For the Yankees, Bichette represents a right-handed bat with contact ability, postseason experience, and at just 27 years old, age still on his side.

It comes as no surprise that the Dodgers are also apparently interested in Bichette.

Per Jon Heyman, the Dodgers are among three previously unreported teams who have checked in on him alongside the Yankees and Cubs.

Bichette going to the Dodgers would certainly complicate their infield picture, but they could move Mookie Betts off of shortstop, move Tommy Edman more permanently to center field to install Bichette at second, or cut Max Muncy's playing time to put Bichette at third.

Bichette, like Tucker and Bellinger, is still more likely to get a longer-term deal than the Dodgers want to give, but they're in no rush to add anyone, let alone another infielder.

Returning to Toronto is believed to be Bichette's top preference, considering he's repeatedly expressed his desire to contend for a World Series title alongside his close friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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Does signing Kazuma Okamoto take the Toronto Blue Jays out of the Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker market?