Bo Bichette Wouldn't Be 'Surprised at All' if Blue Jays Trade Him Amid MLB Rumors
June 27, 2024
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette says he would not be "surprised at all" if he was moved to another team at the 2024 MLB trade deadline.
Bichette is under team control for one more season after signing a three-year, $33.6 million extension with Toronto last year.
After an All-Star campaign in 2023, he is batting a career-low .234 through 67 games this season. The Blue Jays have meanwhile fallen to 36-43 and are on pace to sell at the June 30 deadline.
Bichette recently missed several games with a calf injury before coming back from the IL on June 25.
He was once again held without a hit in his return, continuing his down campaign after leading the AL in hits two times in the last three years.
Bichette is set to earn $17.6 million on an expiring contract next season, making him a rumored trade candidate if the Blue Jays decide to use the deadline as an opportunity to begin retooling the roster.
Toronto general manager Ross Atkins earlier this month pushed back against the idea that the Blue Jays would be moving parts of their core this summer.
"It just doesn't make any sense for us," Atkins said about trading Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in a June 2 interview with MLB Network Radio, per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.
But Atkins did confirm that Bichette and Guerrero had been the subject of trade interest from other teams.
"There will be occasional times when you're talking to other executives, when they'll ask if you'd consider it, and we just say it's not something that we have spent any time on," Atkins said. "Because they are so talented and such great teammates, they are attractive to other teams, so they will call."
Bichette will likely be looking for a long-term extension on his next deal.
The Blue Jays have reportedly discussed an extension with Bichette, but nothing has yet been finalized, leaving open the possibility that Toronto could eventually consider moving the two-time All-Star before his deal is up next fall. If the Blue Jays do consider a move, it sounds like Bichette will be ready for it.