Bichette on playing through knee injury: 'I'll risk it all' to win

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette is playing through a significant knee injury despite being on the verge of free agency. But his offseason price tag is of no concern to him right now.

"I'll risk it all (to win a World Series)," Bichette told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic about playing through his injury.

Bichette sprained his knee Sept. 6 during a home-plate collision at Yankee Stadium. He didn't play again until Game 1 of the World Series, missing the entire stretch run and the first two rounds of the postseason while rehabbing.

The Blue Jays kept rolling without their ailing star, holding off the New York Yankees to win the AL East before eliminating the Yankees in the ALDS and the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. Andrés Giménez moved from second to shortstop in Bichette's absence.

Bichette shifted from shortstop to second - a position he last played as a minor-leaguer in 2019 - upon returning to the lineup in Game 1. He's performed capably in the World Series, going 4-for-11 with two walks during the first four games, but has clearly been moving gingerly on the bases and on defense. After George Springer's injury, Bichette was in the lineup as DH in Games 4 and 5.

"I'm not really expecting to make huge progress while I'm playing," Bichette told Rosenthal. "I'm doing what I can."

Once the series ends, the reality of free agency will hit for both Bichette and the Blue Jays. Toronto is the only organization the 27-year-old has ever known, and although this Fall Classic could mark his last ride in Canada, he's not closing the door on a return.

"I've been here my entire career. Worked really hard to build to a winning culture (in Toronto)," Bichette told reporters, including Daily Hive's Adam Laskaris, before the World Series. "Not alone, of course ... but my goal is to stay here my entire career.

"But right now, I don't have time to think about that."