Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was the subject of trade speculation last week, when a report suggested the Cubs had shown interest in the two-time All-Star. Any kind of Bichette trade always seemed far-fetched and Toronto general manager Ross Atkins shot down the possibility in a chat with reporters (including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet and Scott Mitchell of TSN) this afternoon.
Atkins called Bichette a “really good player” and pointed to the scarcity of impact position player talent available this offseason, suggesting that it’s only natural other teams would contact the Jays about his availability. Nevertheless, Atkins made clear it’s not something the Jays are pursuing. “We are very fortunate to have him and he is our shortstop moving forward,” Atkins said. “Rumors, speculation, there’s usually something (to them), but in our case, Bo is our shortstop moving forward.”
The Jays have the star infielder under contract for two more seasons. Bichette signed a three-year deal to buy out his arbitration campaigns on the eve of Spring Training. He is set for an $11MM salary next season and will make $16.5MM in his final year before free agency. That’s a price the Jays will happily pay for a shortstop who hit .306/.339/.475 over 601 plate appearances, numbers right in line with his career marks.
Toronto has openly looked for ways to add more offense alongside Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Jays are a reported suitor for Shohei Ohtani and have shown interest in a reunion with Matt Chapman. Chapman, Brandon Belt and Whit Merrifield all hitting free agency has subtracted a trio of regulars from the lineup.
As they reload on the heels of an 89-win season that ended in the Wild Card round, the front office is unsurprisingly open to short-term acquisitions. Atkins said the team isn’t averse to trading for a player who is one year from free agency (Nicholson-Smith link). The GM didn’t mention any specific targets. Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber, Ha-Seong Kim and Max Kepler are among the rental players who appeared on MLBTR’s list of the Top 25 offseason trade candidates earlier this month.
Right-hander Alek Manoah also appeared on that list. The Jays have signaled some openness to moving the enigmatic hurler on the heels of a disastrous season. However, Nicholson-Smith suggests (on X) the team is more inclined to hold onto Manoah rather than selling low. At the start of the offseason, Atkins implied he was the in-house favorite to occupy the fifth spot in the rotation behind Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi.
Manoah was a Cy Young finalist as recently as 2022, when he pitched to a 2.24 ERA over 31 starts. Everything went in the wrong direction this year. Manoah allowed 5.87 earned runs per nine over 87 1/3 innings. His walk rate more than doubled while his strikeouts fell to a career-low 19% mark. He didn’t pitch again after being optioned on August 10. Last month, Atkins said the West Virginia product had received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his throwing shoulder.
The GM indicated today that Manoah is throwing as part of his offseason routine. He seems on track to be a full-go for Spring Training. He’d seemingly enter exhibition play as the #5 starter, although the Jays have at least kicked the tires on possible rotation acquisitions. They’ve been tied to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and were reportedly involved in the Aaron Nola market to some extent before he re-signed with the Phillies. If the Jays were to land another starter, it’d reignite speculation about Manoah’s availability.
I’d love to see the Cubs snag this guy but any deal for a player of his magnitude, with the two years of control, would cost them Horton and he’s about as untouchable as a prospect, for me, as they come. I’d deal PCA before Horton.
Bichette? He’ll be very unhappy being moved prematurely off SS, and he was much better last year. Cubs would not be a target.
seamaholic: I’m not surprised the cubs were linked to a deal for Bichette. You should listen to sports talk radio in Chicago. All of the on-air “talent” are self-proclaimed cubs fans and, as with all cubs fans, believe everyone wants to play for their team. Ohtani will sign with the cubs. Bellinger will come back even though, unbeknownst to cubs fans, he just used the cubs to prove he deserves a big fat contract with another team. Yamamoto will sign with the cubs because they already have Suzuki so why wouldn’t he want to slap on some cubs pajamas? While these would be rumors and hopes for fans of other teams, cubs fans actually believe them.
The Cubs actually have a great chance at Ohtani because of one key factor, the Marquee Network.
Neither the Dodgers nor the Giants have their own tv networks. The Yankees and Mets, according to Cots, are well over the luxury tax threshold already and are repeat offenders, the Red Sox are the only other team below the luxury tax that also have their own network.
Having your own network may or may not appeal to Ohtani but the massive amount of increased viewership would greatly increase the value of said network. Teams with their own network could easily justify spending 10 million more per season to sign Ohtani because the rating increase.
This is where people cannot underestimate the Ricketts family, they spent a billion dollars renovating Wrigley Field, the spent a ton of money creating Marqee, buying up real estate surrounding Wrigley and increasing their international presence… they are NOT shy about investing in their product and in case you’ve missed it, Ohtani is a marketing machine. It’s estimated he brought in 100 million per season for the Angels alone, how much more would that be if the Angels owned their own network?
I’m not saying the Cubs will sign him but TR and the Cubs are going to be right there willing to drop that record contract because of the money he brings in.
Um the jays are also in on Ohtani and guess what they own?
Last time I checked, players without no trade protection do not really have much of a say as to whom they are traded to.
Both those guys don’t get you Bichette. He can flat out hit and he’s been putting in the work to becoming a better defender. Two more years of control at a premium position. Jays hang up the phone based on their win now mode alone. Don’t worry, everyone overestimates the value of their prospect pool.
As a Jays fan, I’d seriously consider PCA and Horton for Bo. The only part of that I don’t like is that I think in order to move Bo the Jays would need that floor piece of a major leaguer in the deal. That’s why I think Morel would be in the deal and then take PCA out and add in Caissie instead.
If I’m the Jays, and only if I think there is no chance of extending Bo OR I feel a rebuild is necessary, I would do either of those deals but especially w Morel Caissie Horton. Idk why the Cubs would mortgage their future like that when they’re nowhere near a World Series contender.
KamKid: And where exactly would Bichette play? On Swanson’s shoulders?
avenger65, 3B is where the reports say the Cubs would intend to use him.
PCA and Horton easily gets you Bichette but no way would the Cubs make that trade. You’re the one who is misjudging prospect trade value.
I think Horton would be the guy targeted by the Jays. They are in love with athletic pitchers and have really targeted acquiring pitchers who were former SS like Horton or two sport players. As a Jays’ fan, I like what the Cubs could offer. I thought Morel, Horton, Caissie allows you to keep PCA and Brown. Maybe that’s too much coming the Jays’ way but it would have to be that significant to move a guy many believe is their best player while trying to remain competitive.
I could see the Jays keeping Manoah but they need some rotation depth. Manoah flops or someone gets hurt and there isn’t much behind them.
I like the Jays as a destination for Moncada. Jays could use a lefty bat at 3b and he’s a switch hitter. Obviously he has a big contract so that would have to be worked out but I like the potential for a deal there.
Joel P: Don’t take Moncada away from us. After Getz trades Cease and Eloy and most likely Robert, Yoan is all we’ll have left.
No sense in keeping Moncada. Heck how did you get Moncada in the first place? You traded away Sale.
Robert I could see staying put. The other 3 gotta go and so does Kopech.
The Sox would basically be giving Kopech away right now. Unless they think he’s really done you might as well hang onto him for at least half a season to see if he can be fixed.
Basically what they’re doing with the Soroka move
Soroka is probably toast. Kopech is healthy he has value to someone who thinks they can get the most out of him. They wouldn’t be giving him away that’s nonsense stop following me around and disagreeing with everything I say it’s lame.
What are you gonna get for a broken Kopech? If he pitches well in the 1st half for the White Sox they’ll probably get a little more than they would now.
OTOH the Sox are so screwed up they might just screw Kopech up more
I wouldn’t listen to anything that Ross Atkins or Mark Shapiro say about the baseball side of the BlueJays. Check their history: lots of words that say and mean nothing.
I wouldn’t trust Bo Bichette’s girly weak wrists either!
People shouldn’t listen to anything jimmertee has to say about Shapiro & Atkins.
Check his history: lots of negativity constantly directed at them. They could sign Otahni, Yamomomto & trade for Soto & he’d find a reason to complain.
I also recall Jimmer talk about how Bichette wouldn’t be any good in the bigs due to his swing at the plate.
#scoutseyes
Atkins truly is the master of talking a lot and saying nothing. Lots of hollow corporate words and optimism, but not much else.
No one is untouchable, every front office will listen. The only difference is the price tag is set higher. That being said, I really doubt Bichette gets traded, Toronto is in win-now mode.
The only thing more unbelievable than Bichette being dangled is that the cubs were interested.
Where in the hell are you playing Bichette with Hoerner and Swanson? That’s ludicrous.
The reports were that the Cubs’ interest in Bichette was at 3B.
Bo’s next position is 2b not 3B, he doesn’t have the arm for the hot corner
If he doesn’t have the arm for 3B, why is he playing SS where a stronger arm is required? Bo’s arm isn’t any weaker than Bregman’s. Moreover, Bo’s hands have improved while his lateral range has declined. To me, that’s trending more towards 3B than 2B. But he’s a bat first infielder. Maybe he’s more of a utility player ultimately. I wouldn’t play him at 3B personally, but that’s what the reporting was.
Cubs putting Bichette at 3B sounds like a click-bait made up story
I can understand the Cubs getting creative about filling a need when the options in free agency aren’t plentiful. Though I don’t know why you’d give up as much as you would need to to get Bichette before the free agent options are off the board. I don’t expect it to happen, and it’s all just wide nets at this point in the offseason anyway. Most players are discussed. It doesn’t make it any less fun to ponder just because it’s not the most likely scenario to play out.
@Kam
Im always here for that. it’s just also the time of the year when clickbait garbage can be pumped out daily. Have to sniff out some of the really crappy stuff.
Your first sentence is not correct.
Last year the leave average for SS was 86.3 and 86.2 for 3B.
Lots of SS have great arms because that’s the premier position and the best athletes start there. That’s doesn’t mean a SS needs a stronger arm than a 3B.
But anyways none of this matters, bo isn’t going anywhere for now
The reason Bo is playing SS is because nobody else with a better arm and glove could hit well enough to start.
2023 was Bo’s best defensive season. Ask him to make the difficult play in the hole, you better hope Vogelbach is running.
I think Hoerner was rumored to be part of the package going the other way but I still agree with you. It doesn’t seem like something either the Jays or Cubs would be pushing hard for.
Cubs are not moving three years of Nico Hoerner for two years of Bo Bichette.
The Cubs played Nick Marigal at third base last season and his arm is average at best for the hot corner. It’s actually shocking Madrigal had enough arm to be a plus defender at third when prior to last season his arm was ranked weak for a second baseman.
The Cubs are doing their due diligence on all players rumored to be available, that is all. Fans and talking heads are the ones that are overreacting. “Oh my god, Cubs inquired about Soto! Glasnow! Bichette! Bieber! Alonso!” Of course they are, Hoyer and Hawkins are doing their jobs, gauging what a return would look like and really, how much teams value Christopher Morel.
@acoss13
I think they missed their win-now window. They’re losing SP, their 3B and some bullpen pieces. They got rid of an OF last year with a career BA of .279 and wOBA of .337 (both above average) along with a top catching prospect for an OFer that is below average in BA & wOBA. Their 1B is coming down from grace to more of his average skill level. Still above average as a player but not the superstar he was promoted as. Their offense really doesn’t scare me given that outside of the 4 main players (Davis Schneider, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette & George Springer), there is nothing there.
The only thing going for the Jays is their rotation that’s still in decent shape.
The Cubs are set at SS and Bichette isn’t moving to 2B so the rumor isn’t believable.
Or Chicago was moving him to third base. Believe Dansby got 7/177 from the Cubs and won a GG in his first season there so I agree with you he’s not moving anywhere.
Cubs are set at 2B too.
I said it in another article thread, but it bares reiterating- Bo Bichette seems like a player who is so good but represents somewhat of a redundancy for Toronto and they might be better off trading him for the missing piece or pieces that put them over that hump between borderline post season quality team and World Series contender team. He may very well be their Nomar Garciaparra- and they might really love him and he is worth a huge haul, meaning why give that way? but that haul might very well be players that fill the gaps Toronto has, while guys like Springer and Vlad, Jr. pick up the slack Bichette’s absence might’ve presented.
Bo most likely gets traded next offseason. He’s made it clear that he wants to test free agency so a trade makes more sense than settling for a draft pick. They’ll keep him this year as they’re in play for Ohtani & Yammamoto so trading a star player while trying to attract 2 of them to sign with the team doesn’t help their cause.
They’ll still get a good return next offseason & work on a place holder until NImmala is ready.
I think this is a good read. I feel like the team’s at a bit of a crossroads where they are good but need help and the fact they need to find a SS sooner than later anyway makes the idea of moving Bo now when he would return a pretty major haul seem like one way to get back on track. But moving him makes the short term more difficult as they really don’t have an internal candidate for SS and free agency doesn’t feature much.
Sign Hader/top RP to push Romano. Sign a left-handed hitter to DH/1B. Trade Manoah for whatever OF to play LF/CF. Sign a 4/5 SP to push Kikuchi. Have an internal competition for 3B. Not really a crossroads and still a wonderful core of players. Even without Hader, or signing Chapman, Bellinger, Ohtani, Yamamoto, we have a good chance. It was a leadership, mental toughness issue last season. Not a lack of skill.
They have no internal 3B competition. 3B they need to trade for.
You’re right about redundancy, however the Jays need to sell fans on attending their brand new renovated bar areas. They have to keep Bo for profitability. Jays are poised for a rebuild but can’t thanks to stadium alterations. They can’t fill the park with a 90+ loss team.
Not sure what you mean by redundant. The Jays have no one else ready to play short and there isn’t anyone on the market you would really want starting at that position. You would just create another hole you have to fill.
If Bo’s traded that should signal rebuild in my mind.
Yeah, I can’t think of anyone on the Blue Jays less redundant than Bichette. I think the poster may live in the past and believe that the Jays are still a home run mashing big offense team that can afford to lose a middle of the order hitter to add pitching and defense. Whereas the 2023 reality was the exact opposite and they can in no way afford to lose their best offensive player.
Atkins says anything he wants and is one of the most spineless FO turds currently in baseball. He and his buddy Shapiro can easily be duped by most other FO execs. They should lock up Bo long term and trade Vladdy’s lazy a$$ next summer if they are not in playoff contention.
Everyone makes fun of Atkins, he does have a funny way of talking to the press. But he’s not completely useless and actually has gotten some things right. Signing Gausman to the free agent contract over Robbie Ray was a good call. He’s built a good bullpen. The team has reached the playoffs two out of the last three seasons and seem to be just a player or two away.
They are a player or two away thanks to Atkins year in and year out. Bad GMs can strike gold once in a while.
In honor of a long ago Padres-Jays trade i suggest Bichette and Guerrero to the Padres for Soto and Tatis.
Padres say “No, don’t be absurd.”
The time to extend Bo was a minute after Trea Turner signed with the Phillies.
Bo’s not going to the Cubs as they have other holes to fill and an acquisition of Bo won’t be enough. But, Jays might deal Bo this deadline if they’re out of contention. Even then, Jays might screw that up like they did 2017.
Bichette reminds me of Pedroia. Jays should keep Bichette & make him a second baseman.
This as good as it gets with ShapiEro and his Carry On Baggage AssKiss….JAYS Nation Going Nowhere with these 2 Clowns !!
If the lunkheads running the Blue Jays front office trade Bichette there will be mass revolution. The anger has not subsided since they gave away the young star catcher Gabe Moreno for nothing. Shatkins is destroying a great franchise.