The Toronto Blue Jays came into last offseason needing to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to massive contract extensions, but they only inked Guerrero to a deal.
At the time, this made sense because Bichette was coming off a horrendous 2024 campaign. But this season, Bichette has looked like a star again, and he heads into free agency holding all the cards.
MLB’s Mark Feinsand recently suggested the Atlanta Braves could be a suitor for Bichette in free agency. The Braves have been closely linked to Bichette in the past as a potential trade landing spot, but nothing ever came to fruition.
“After leading the AL in hits in 2021 and ’22 and making his second career All-Star team in 2023, Bichette had a nightmarish 2024, playing in only 81 games — and unproductive ones, at that,” Feinsand wrote. “This year, Bichette has looked like his old self, once again leading the American League in hits while hitting 16 homers with 82 RBIs and an .805 OPS in 125 games. The shortstop market will be thin this winter, putting Bichette in position to score big in his first foray into free agency.”
The Braves struggled this year, but it’s not in their nature to roll over and die. Instead, making a blockbuster move like this for Bichette would fit the Braves perfectly.
The star could take over at shortstop for the foreseeable future. He would fit into the top of Atlanta’s lineup while also providing solid infield defense at the most important position on the dirt.
The Blue Jays will likely stay in pursuit of the star, too. But with Toronto likely looking to upgrade all over its roster, it’s hard to imagine the front office would be able to commit the money to Bichette that it will take to re-sign him.
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