Bichette is one of the most attractive free agents on the market as a bat-first shortstop with multiple All-Star appearances under his belt who will only be 28 years old next year.
But he’s not gotten much attention in the rumor mill this winter as players like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger who’ve absorbed most of the offseason attention.
Blue Jays need Bo Bichette more than Bellinger or Tucker. Pay the man. 💰
Possibly that lack of buzz has been due to a widespread assumption that Bichette, who has long spoken about his desire to stay in Toronto for his entire career, was sure to remain with the Blue Jays going forward.
While much of the discourse surrounding alternative suitors for Bichette is due to the seemingly closing window for him to return to Toronto, that doesn’t mean the Blue Jays are completely out of the running.
Toronto still the most attractive destination for Bichette in free agency
Bichette’s affection for the only team he’s known since being drafted in the second round back in 2016 has been widely reported for years now, and his close connection with fellow star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. surely makes a return to Toronto the most attractive option from his own perspective.
While Tucker is a more straightforward fit for the team’s needs after signing Okamoto, Bichette would still certainly be an extremely viable alternative if the bidding for the star outfielder gets outside of the Jays’ comfort zone.
BO BICHETTE!!!! ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Placing Bichette at second base and either moving Ernie Clement into a bench role or having Okamoto split time between first base, third base, DH, and the outfield corners in order to create playing time for Clement could certainly be a viable option.
There appear to be at least five suitors for Bichette
Heyman adds that the Yanks and Cubs are fielding trade inquiries for their respective second basemen, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Nico Hoerner.
