The Toronto Blue Jays could lose Bo Bichette when he hits free agency after this season. He could end up changing positions for certain teams interested in him.
Bichette signed a three-year, $33 million deal in 2023. He was an All-Star in 2023, but struggled in 2024. This year, he is playing well, but his power numbers are down. He could be looking for a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid shortstops in the league. The Blue Jays may not be able to make that happen.
If Bichette hits the open market, plenty of teams should be willing to give him a lucrative contract. However, certain teams may already have a shortstop and would rather have Bichette play third base. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden suggested that Bichette could switch to third base to join the Yankees as a free agent.
“He’ll need to pick it up some and get back to his 2021-23 form if he wants to get paid at that value, which is probably close to the six-year, $171 million offer that (Alex) Bregman received from the Tigers last offseason,” wrote Bowden. “Bichette might have to be willing to move to third base for certain interested teams like the (Detroit) Tigers, Yankees or (Los Angeles) Dodgers, but he should have a strong market if he plays at his accustomed level this season.”
Bichette is slashing .286/.335/.422. His batting average is hovering around his career average, but he has just four home runs. He hit 20-plus home runs every year from 2021-2023. Even if his power numbers are down, he is still a great hitter who could help a lineup. However, it could significantly impact how much money he gets.
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The Yankees could definitely use Bichette at third base. He is a great defender and could make the switch in order to play for a contender. He is a two-time All-Star and has led the American League in hits twice. The Yankees already have a shortstop, but Bichette would be an upgrade from their current third base situation.
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