Trade Inquiries for Bo Bichette

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly fielding trade inquiries about their star shortstop Bo Bichette. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, while the team is not actively shopping Bichette, they are open to trade discussions if another club meets their high asking price.

Shift in Stance

This shift in stance is particularly noteworthy given that just last month, Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins told MLB Network's Jon Morosi that any trade inquiries regarding Bichette would receive an unequivocal 'no.' In baseball, it’s quite rare for a general manager to publicly deny trade rumors only to reverse course shortly thereafter. A notable exception to this trend occurred with outfielder Juan Soto, who was rumored to be off-limits by the Nationals before being traded to the Padres just two months later, a decision that ultimately benefitted Soto greatly.

Roster Changes

In recent developments, the Blue Jays have made some roster changes that could influence their decision on Bichette. They recently acquired Andrés Giménez from the Guardians in a deal that took on nearly $100 million over five years. Regarded as one of the best defensive second basemen in the league, Giménez has won the AL Gold Glove award three consecutive years and has previously played shortstop, raising questions about his future position in Toronto.

Potential Transition for Giménez

Given Giménez's elite defensive skills, there is speculation that he could potentially transition to shortstop in the near future. Initially, the plan appeared to have Giménez playing second base for now, with a move to shortstop expected once Bichette becomes a free agent after the 2024 season. However, the idea of pursuing a top free agent like Alex Bregman has also cropped up, suggesting the Jays might consider positioning Giménez and Bregman on the left side of the infield, which could lead to trading Bichette.

Budget Flexibility Through Trade

The Blue Jays have potential options at third base but none that stand out as definitive starters, which opens the door for acquiring Bregman even if Bichette remains on the roster. Trading Bichette could also provide extra budget flexibility for the team, allowing them to bring in Major League-ready talent in exchange for their 2024 shortstop, who is under contract for $16.5 million in his final year of club control.

Bichette's Performance Concerns

However, any trade involving Bichette is complicated by his performance in the previous season, which was his worst yet. He finished with a disappointing .225/.277/.322 batting line over 336 plate appearances, suffering multiple injuries that limited him significantly throughout the season. The right calf strains and a broken finger were significant setbacks, causing concerns among teams about his current value.

Bichette's Track Record

Despite last season's struggles, Bichette has previously established himself as one of the elite middle infielders in the league since debuting in 2019, boasting a strong career batting average of .299. His impressive track record includes over 20 home runs in each of his first three full seasons and receiving down-ballot MVP votes between 2021-2023.

Looking Ahead

As the Blue Jays look ahead to a competitive 2025 season, the uncertainty surrounding Bichette's performance poses a dilemma. Trading him now would risk losing a potential All-Star while they are still aiming for playoff contention. If the team finds themselves out of the race later in the season, they could potentially revisit trade discussions or market him at the deadline. For now, both the Blue Jays and prospective teams will have their eyes keenly focused on Bichette’s performance in the upcoming year.

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned as this saga unfolds, and workers in MLB keep their ears on the ground for further developments!