This season, Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483/.840 with 18 homers and 94 RBI in 139 games played. Adames, his contract comparison, slashed .225/.318/.421/.740 with 30 homers and 87 RBI over 160 games.

Through all of the tumult of a last-to-first season, Bichette was a consistent force from opening day to his violent collision at home plate at Yankee Stadium back on Sept. 6. And he’s certainly appreciated the journey the team that selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft has been.

There’s still something missing here. Even with the Blue Jays clinching their first AL East title since 2015, it doesn’t feel complete without Bo Bichette. Toronto didn’t exactly spring through the finish line.

The 27-year-old Bichette batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, 44 doubles, and an .840 OPS. The two-time All-Star provided the Blue Jays with 3.4 bWAR, a significant improvement over last year’s -0.3 mark.

The Toronto Blue Jays are poised to offer All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette a contract around $180 million, similar to Willy Adames' deal, as his current

At least defensively, the Jays can survive Bichette’s absence, even if it leaks into October. However, there’s no replacement for his contact-dominant offence. If Toronto can bring back Bichette’s bat, even in a designated hitting role, it will benefit. That may be the most realistic return.

The Toronto Blue Jays are entering the final day of the regular season tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. If the Blue Jays are able to sweep the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, they’ll claim the club’s first division title since 2015.