A day after the Toronto Blue Jays lost the World Series, longtime shortstop Bo Bichette was one of 137 major league players who became free agents Sunday.
Bichette, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker are on the free agent list.
Bichette hit a three-run homer to give the Blue Jays the lead early in Game 7 Saturday, but the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 5-4 victory in 11 innings.
Bichette, 27, played through a knee injury in the World Series, his only postseason action. But he played to a .348 average with a home run and six RBIs.
Bichette, a two-time All-Star, first reached the majors with Toronto in 2019.
Schwarber led the National League with 56 home runs and the majors with 132 RBIs this season. The three-time All-Star hit .240 with 111 runs.
The 32-year-old is recognized as one of the best power bats in the majors. He hit 187 home runs in his four seasons with the Phillies and 340 in a career that began with the Chicago Cubs in 2015.
Tucker, 28, hit .266 with 22 homers and 73 RBIs for the Cubs this season. Chicago acquired him during the offseason from the Houston Astros.
Tucker seemed determined to test the free agent market even before the trade with the Cubs. The four-time All-Star has hit 20 home runs in five straight seasons.
Free agents can sign with teams starting Thursday.
Other players who became free agents Sunday include catcher JT Realmuto, first baseman Josh Naylor, second baseman Gleyber Torres, third baseman Eugenio Suarez, infielder Luis Arraez, outfielders Trent Grisham, Ryan O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.
On the pitching side, free agents include left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, right-handers Chris Bassitt, Dylan Cease, Kenley Jansen and Devin Williams.
Veteran right-handers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, at the end of their careers, will also be available. Scherzer made two starts for Toronto in the World Series.
Some other players could become free agents later in the coming weeks due to option clauses, including New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and right-hander Edwin Diaz, Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, New York Yankees first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber and San Diego Padres right-handers Michael King and Robert Suarez.
–Field level media
