5 Potential Trade Partners if the Blue Jays Deal Bo Bichette
Grant White
Host · Writer
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are patiently waiting for their young nucleus to come together, but they still haven't formed that championship-winning bond. Adding Bo Bichette could be the catalyst the Pirates need to create that covalence.
The biggest argument against the Pirates trading for Bo Bichette is that they have Oneil Cruz penciled in for years to come at shortstop; however, this wouldn't be the first time a franchise acquires two shortstops and asks one to change positions. The Los Angeles Dodgers tried it when they had Trea Turner and Corey Seager for the 2021 season. Or, more famously, the New York Yankees did just fine when they inked Alex Rodriguez to that record-setting contract, asking him to move over to third to accommodate The Captain.
Pittsburgh could be on the verge of creating a new dynasty by trading for Bichette. If it happens, walk straight to the betting window and ask for a futures ticket on the Pirates winning the NL Central.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays won't have to look far if they move on from shortstop Bo Bichette. The Tampa Bay Rays have a glaring need at shortstop and the farm system to pull off a move with their divisional rivals.
With Wander Franco likely never suiting up in the majors again, the Rays need an everyday starting shortstop who can defend and add value in the batting order. Bichette can be that guy.
After a tumultuous 2022 campaign in which he posted a -0.8 dWAR, Bichette responded with a Gold Glove-esque 1.3 rating in 2023. Moreover, the two-time All-Star has a 15.9 oWAR since the start of the 2021 season.
That's the type of profile that excels in the Rays lineup. With the cupboards always stocked with some of the best minor league talent, Tampa Bay could be the homecoming Bichette deserves.
Detroit Tigers
It's been a rough few years for the Detroit Tigers. The former AL Central juggernauts have accumulated a wealth of talent via the draft over recent seasons as they ride out the end of the Miguel Cabrera era. Now, those pieces are starting to come together as they re-assert themselves as a perennial force. Bo Bichette can expedite that process, injecting a young lineup with an offensive catalyst.
The Tigers have stayed afloat with a sub-optimal .684 OPS, trying to keep pace with the frontrunners in the AL Central. However, that metric would look significantly better if they didn't have Javier Baez dragging them down to the lowest level. Baez ranks as the worst-hitting shortstop in the majors, posting a disastrous .506 OPS. He's not even defending at the elite level we once saw, with Baez posting a dWAR above 0.3 just once over the past four seasons.
Detroit desperately needs an upgrade at shortstop. With a bursting pipeline, they could be natural trade partners for the Blue Jays.
Cleveland Guardians
Another AL Central team could be looking for an upgrade in their middle infield. The Cleveland Guardians have triumphed over the division, deploying Brayan Rocchio as their everyday shortstop. Bo Bichette would be an immediate upgrade, transforming the Guardians into World Series contenders.
Predictably, Rocchio has looked out of place at the dish in his first full major league season. The 23-year-old has a lackluster .564 OPS, with more strikeouts than hits and only nine extra-base hits.
Inserting Bichette into Rocchio's position gives the Guardians a seemingly unbeatable lineup and one of the best defensive infields in the game. Watch Cleveland's World Series odds soar if they pull off this trade.
New York Mets
The New York Mets have been constantly tinkering over the last few seasons, trying to find the right lineup combination to compete in the NL East. Although they have yet to find it, a trade centered around Bo Bichette and Francisco Lindor could be the fresh start all parties need.
Like Bichette in Toronto, Lindor isn't working out with the Mets this season. Nor has it been a good fit since landing in Queens. In four seasons with the Mets, Lindor's OPS has dipped to .765, down from .833 in Cleveland. Similarly, he has yet to post an above-average dWar in the Big Apple, falling below the lofty standards he set with his former team.
The Blue Jays have the big market payroll to facilitate the trade, and both teams would benefit from giving their franchise cornerstones a new beginning.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are patiently waiting for their young nucleus to come together, but they still haven't formed that championship-winning bond. Adding Bo Bichette could be the catalyst the Pirates need to create that covalence.
The biggest argument against the Pirates trading for Bo Bichette is that they have Oneil Cruz penciled in for years to come at shortstop; however, this wouldn't be the first time a franchise acquires two shortstops and asks one to change positions. The Los Angeles Dodgers tried it when they had Trea Turner and Corey Seager for the 2021 season. Or, more famously, the New York Yankees did just fine when they inked Alex Rodriguez to that record-setting contract, asking him to move over to third to accommodate The Captain.
Pittsburgh could be on the verge of creating a new dynasty by trading for Bichette. If it happens, walk straight to the betting window and ask for a futures ticket on the Pirates winning the NL Central.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays won't have to look far if they move on from shortstop Bo Bichette. The Tampa Bay Rays have a glaring need at shortstop and the farm system to pull off a move with their divisional rivals.
With Wander Franco likely never suiting up in the majors again, the Rays need an everyday starting shortstop who can defend and add value in the batting order. Bichette can be that guy.
After a tumultuous 2022 campaign in which he posted a -0.8 dWAR, Bichette responded with a Gold Glove-esque 1.3 rating in 2023. Moreover, the two-time All-Star has a 15.9 oWAR since the start of the 2021 season.
That's the type of profile that excels in the Rays lineup. With the cupboards always stocked with some of the best minor league talent, Tampa Bay could be the homecoming Bichette deserves.
