Amid growing trade buzz, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette would not be “surprised at all” if he was traded at the deadline. Earlier this month, Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said trading Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “doesn’t make any sense.” But at 37-43 and 6.5 games back in the Wild Card race, Toronto could decide to sell at the deadline.
Blue Jays Shortstop Sparks Trade Buzz With Viral Comment
Star shortstop Bo Bichette, under team control for one more season, is drawing trade interest from multiple contenders. After an All-Star campaign in 2023, the 26-year-old is batting a career-low .233 through 68 games this season. Bichette recently spent time on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain before being reinstated on June 25th. The two-time American League hits leader has just one hit in nine at-bats since returning from the injured list.
Bichette will earn $17.6 million on an expiring contract next season after last year’s three-year, $33.6 million extension. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that prior long-term negotiations with Bichette “never came close” to an agreement. Heyman wrote, “folks who know the pair believe the Jays have little to no chance to lock up Bichette.”
On Thursday, he was asked if he would be surprised if the Blue Jays decided to move him ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. His response, “no. not surprised at all.”
Spoke to Bo Bichette about trade rumours and deadline talk. I asked him whether he’d be surprised if he were moved at the trade deadline.
“No. Not surprised at all.”#BlueJays
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) June 27, 2024
After the game, he expanded, saying, “It’s the business of the game.” Bichette added, “I’m focused on what we need to do now, (which) is to win games.”
Where Could Blue Jays Shortstop Bo Bichette End Up?
Despite pushing back on the idea that Bichette or Guerrero would be traded, Atkins acknowledged that other teams expressed interest in the duo. After a seven-game losing streak, Toronto has secured back-to-back wins, yet their window to re-enter the playoff race is narrowing. Should the Blue Jays change course and decide to trade Bichette, the star shortstop would likely command a substantial return.
Saying Bichette’s season has been rough would be an understatement, yet he’s still a valuable upgrade for almost any team.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Rumors about a blockbuster Dodgers-Blue Jays trade for Bo Bichette have been swirling for a while now. Should Toronto decide to deal with him, Los Angeles would be one of the more obvious destinations for the star shortstop. Mookie Betts took over as the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop this year but is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a fractured hand. The Dodgers are rumored to be a shortstop trade destination, allowing Betts to move to second, where he’s a better defender.
Cleveland Guardians
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Jeff Passan said “there might be no better fit” for Bichette than the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland has the second-best record in the American League but has gotten next to no production from their shortstops. Brayan Rocchio had a promising spring but has batted just .211/.312/.299 with two homers over 69 games. Gabriel Arias hasn’t been much better, batting .241/.270/.383 with a 31.8% strikeout rate through 47 appearances. Despite having a career-low season, Bichette would be a clear upgrade over Rocchio and Arias.
While the Toronto Blue Jays may not actively seek to trade Bo Bichette, he still holds a lot of value, which Toronto could cash in on if they are not able to sign him to a long-term extension.
Main Photo Credits: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
