On Bo Bichette

Bob Nightengale got everyone talking with a bit in Sunday column:

The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to entertain trade offers this winter for shortstop Bo Bichette, who has no plans to stay in Toronto once he’s a free agent after the 2025 season.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is also a free agent after the 2025 season, but the Blue Jays want to try signing him before he hits free agency.

I think most of us figured they would shop him this winter, but then when I hear Nightengale saying it, I think he’s unlikely to be moved.

We are told that Bo will start ‘running’ by the weekend. If all goes well, he could be back with the team in early September, which would give him less than a month to prove that the batting numbers he’s put up this season don’t show his actual ability.

I honestly don’t know his trade value at the moment, but he’s just 26. He’s having his first down year of his career. Everyone has a down year now and then.

I don’t know that the team wouldn’t be better off keeping him to start the season with the Jays and show that he can be healthy and that he can still hit. Of course, that’s assuming he would be healthy, and he can still hit. If he would start next season hitting around .200 and missing time with leg injuries, his trade value wouldn’t be great.

I’ve had a theory that Bichette wouldn’t age well. His batting ability seems to be more on reflex than most players. He doesn’t control the strike zone. He may learn, but he’s been a great player because he swings at almost everything and makes good contact. I think that when he loses a bit of bat speed

He fouls off many pitches. Buck will tell you he’s great after two strikes. I think he’s great on first pitches when pitchers are trying to get ahead of him. I often joke that I’d like him better if he walked more than once a week, but if he bats .300ish and hits 20+ home runs, I’m he can walk as little as he likes. It is when the average drops to ,270 and the home runs drop to 15ish that the lack of walks will bother me.

Anyway, let’s have a poll: