The Toronto Blue Jays have two very high-profile free agents hitting the market this winter. One has played for them for six years, the other six weeks.
Shortstop Bo Bichette and starting pitcher Shane Bieber both have incredibly high upside with equally prominent question marks. With Bichette, it’s the defense at shortstop and whether he’ll eventually move to third base, and with Bieber, it’s whether he can stay healthy for the long haul.
The Blue Jays, like any other teams interested, will have to answer those questions for themselves. But what are the odds either or both return?
On Thursday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic confirmed that Toronto would like to bring both stars back but hinted that their odds of retaining Bichette were probably higher than those of keeping Bieber.
“The Jays openly expressed interest in bringing back both players next year, but Bichette seems more likely at this point,” wrote Bannon. “More than anything in free agency, money wins. But looking at potential tiebreakers, the Jays are well positioned to win those with Bichette.
“He’s been a Blue Jay his entire career, he’d be their regular shortstop (at least for the next few years), and Bichette regularly discusses wanting to win with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with whom he rose through the minors.”
Bichette, 27, has been on fire since the All-Star break and currently sports a .307/.352/.477 slash line. Meanwhile, Bieber has a 4.15 ERA through three starts, but an impressive 0.81 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.
The heartstrings are present with Bichette in a way they likely never would be with Bieber. Yet, the market can shake out in any direction, so it’s not a lock that Bichette will be back, nor that Bieber will be gone.
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