Bo Bichette remains on the free-agent market as one of the best position players available. A career shortstop.
No club knows Bichette better than the Blue Jays. He’s spent his entire professional career with the organization after Toronto selected him in the second round in 2016.
Although the two sides have openly said they want to continue the partnership, extension talks never materialized, and the front office didn’t seem to show the same urgency in locking up Bichette as it did with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Mark Shapiro on bringing back Bo Bichette. 🗣️
Giménez is more valuable if he’s at shortstop, and maybe Bichette acknowledged that when he volunteered to play second base in the World Series.
The Blue Jays need another middle-of-the-order bat, which is a role Bichette is well-suited for.
However, free agents Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman are also options, and there’s an argument to be made that both would fit the team better.
Still, there’s a path toward a reunion if the Blue Jays want it. Bichette could play second base, pushing Ernie Clement to third and Addison Barger into a corner outfield spot. But perhaps Toronto would like to bring in a new face.
At just 27 years old, he’s entering his prime with a career slash line of .294/.337/.469 and an .806 OPS.
Will Bo Bichette return to Toronto, or is he going to sign somewhere else?
Potential teams that may sign Bo Bichette
Bichette would be the perfect complement to an offense that ranked in the bottom half in runs and OPS last season.
Bichette could man the position with Trevor Story locked in at shortstop, and he’d serve as a younger replacement should Bregman not re-sign.
Deploying Bichette at second base would also allow the Red Sox to move Marcelo Mayer to third base.
The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t have many holes, but second base is one of them if the club would rather deploy Tommy Edman in more of a utility role.
Adding Bichette would also give Los Angeles depth at shortstop, allowing Mookie Betts to return to right field when needed.
The reigning World Series champs have enough roster flexibility to accommodate a Bichette acquisition pretty easily.
