It’s no secret that Bo Bichette didn’t have a great season.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ star shortstop finished the season slashing .225/.277/.322 with four home runs in 336 plate appearances, with a 6 BB% and a 19 K% for a 71 wRC+ and a 0.3 fWAR. Moreover, he suffered a calf injury that kept him out of the lineup on two separate occasions. Once he returned, he fractured his finger and missed the last few games of the season.
Well, it was reported by TSN’s Scott Mitchell last week that Bo Bichette was shopped around last winter.
“An even trickier situation than finding the right long-term parameters for Vladdy is figuring out not only Bichette’s standing within the organization, but also his trade value.
The Jays did indeed shop Bichette in the early stages last winter, according to sources, but it was more exploratory than anything.
This time around, there seems to be a bit of a fractured relationship, and a change of scenery might be best for both parties.”
This shouldn’t come as a shock. Bichette is under contract for the 2025 season before he’s set to become a free agency. Throughout his tenure with the Blue Jays, they’ve looked to bring in an additional shortstop, such as Francisco Lindor before the 2021 season and Xander Bogaerts before the 2023 season.
With how poorly the 2024 Blue Jays performed, Bichette’s name was often discussed in trade rumours as well. However, the Blue Jays mainly focused on trading away players with contracts coming to an end this off-season as they wish to contend in 2025.
The team has a long list of needs they’ll need to address this off-season. First and foremost, the bullpen needs a complete overhaul, as it went from one of the best in the league in 2023 to arguably the worst in the league in 2024.
On top of that, they’ll need a starter in free agency while adding a power bat or two to give Vladimir Guerrero Jr. some protection. Speaking of their star first baseman, he’ll also be a free agent after the 2025 season finishes, so it’s paramount for the Blue Jays to extend him as soon as possible.
It’s entirely possible that the Blue Jays shop Bichette this off-season, given that he’s a two-time All-Star at a premium position. The question becomes, how much value does he have, and will the Jays trade him if his value is so low?
Either way, expect the Blue Jays to be incredibly busy this off-season.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.