It appears one of the Toronto Blue Jays stars won’t be traded this off-season.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told him that trading Bo Bichette “is an easy no”.
Ross Atkins told me his answer is “an easy no” to any trade inquiries on Bo Bichette. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 5, 2024
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It was a rough season for Bichette, as he slashed .225/.277/.322 with four home runs in 336 plate appearances for a career-worst 71 wRC+ and a 0.3 fWAR. Although he had three separate stints on the Injured List, including a nearly two-month-long stint, Bichette’s poor season was the result of a slow start.
Bichette has overcome tough starts to his season before. On August 20, 2022, he was slashing .256/.295/.420 with 17 home runs in 511 plate appearances for a 103 wRC+. For the rest of the season, he slashed .386/.435/.608 with seven home runs in 186 plate appearances for a 201 wRC+. The shortstop ended the 2022 season slashing .290/.333/.469 with 24 home runs in 697 plate appearances for a 129 wRC+, a career-best in a full season.
However, he was unable to overcome that tough start due to injury. One of those Injured List stints was because of a calf injury and it lasted 10 days on the IL before he was activated. A few weeks later, he returned to the IL due to the same injury, lasting two months on the IL. The following day after his first game back in mid-September, he broke his right middle finger taking a ground ball.
With that being said, the value that Bichette currently has is the lowest it’s ever been. Not only is he coming off a poor season performance-wise that saw him deal with a recurring injury, but the 2025 season will be his final under contract with the Blue Jays. There’s a real chance Bichette will test free agency.
Of course, their superstar is in the same situation, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming off a terrific season with the 2025 season being the last of the Blue Jays’ team control. All of that is to say that this may be the team’s last chance at contending for a World Series.
If that’s the case, the Blue Jays front office needs to significantly improve this team this off-season.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.