USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported a 2-Time All-Star and projected Atlanta Braves trade target has no real interest in returning to his current MLB club.
The Atlanta Braves may benefit from an upgrade at shortstop. Fans in Braves Country who were expecting for an upgrade in the form of Bo Bichette were given some hope this week.
On January 7, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale all but ruled out Bichette returning to the Toronto Blue Jays for his next contract.
“This is the final year before Vladimir Guerrero and Bo Bichette leave town as free agents,” he wrote.
The Atlanta Braves may benefit from an upgrade at shortstop. Fans in Braves Country who were expecting for an upgrade in the form of Bo Bichette were given some hope this week.
On January 7, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale all but ruled out Bichette returning to the Toronto Blue Jays for his next contract.
“This is the final year before Vladimir Guerrero and Bo Bichette leave town as free agents,” he wrote.
Nightengale didn’t go into detail, but his phrase hinted Bichette would leave the Blue Jays once his contract expired. That will occur after the 2025 season.
If Toronto has already decided to part ways with Bichette, trading him this offseason makes sense. The Braves have been mentioned by several commentators as a possible landing location if that happens.
Orlando Arcia, the Braves’ shortstop, struggled at the plate in 2024, with an OPS of.625. On paper, Bichette appears to be a better offensive option than Arcia.
However, there are other considerations to examine before our Atlanta Braves staff on SI supports the team’s acquisition of Bichette.
For example, Bichette is expected to earn approximately $17.6 million in 2025. Almost all of Atlanta’s moves (or lack thereof) this offseason have signaled that the franchise is avoiding large contracts like that for new players.
To secure Bichette in Atlanta, the Blue Jays may have to agree to maintain a significant portion of the shortstop’s salary.
The trade compensation may also be a source of controversy. According to SI’s Harrison Smajovits, the Atlanta Braves should not deal a left-handed pitching prospect, especially one of their top lefties, such as 2024 first-round choice Cam Caminiti.
To secure Bichette in Atlanta, the Blue Jays may have to agree to maintain a significant portion of the shortstop’s salary.
The trade compensation may also be a source of controversy. According to SI’s Harrison Smajovits, the Atlanta Braves should not deal a left-handed pitching prospect, especially one of their top lefties, such as 2024 first-round choice Cam Caminiti.
Finally, it’s worth considering whether Bichette is genuinely an improvement over Arcia. Yes, Bichette had with injuries last season, but he hit.225 with a.598 OPS, which was 27 points worse than Arcia’s dismal OPS.
Bichette was an All-Star in 2023, as was Arcia.
The hope after Nightengale’s report about Bichette being on his way out of Toronto is that the Blue Jays become so desperate to dump the shortstop this offseason that he becomes an easy trade target for the Braves. But there’s still nothing stopping Toronto from keeping the shortstop one more season and then simply letting him depart in free agency.
