Bo Bichette Open to Position Change Amid Trade Rumors

Bo Bichette, the Toronto Blue Jays star, has indicated his openness to switching from shortstop to second base as trade rumors swirl around him. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Bichette is communicating to interested teams that he is willing to play second base, which could enhance his marketability as a free agent.

This shift is particularly timely as his defensive metrics at shortstop have been under scrutiny; Statcast has labeled him as an average or below-average defender. Over the past few years, Defensive Runs Saved has shown him in the red, and he ranks fifth worst at shortstop with -15 Outs Above Average in 2023.

CBS Sports highlights that despite his defensive struggles, Bichette is a strong offensive player, boasting a career slash line of .294/.337/.469. His recent performance in the World Series, where he played second base and demonstrated his capability at the position, adds to the intrigue of his potential trade value.

The Blue Jays might find a better infield alignment with Bichette at second base and Andrés Giménez at shortstop, though general manager Ross Atkins has suggested a willingness to maintain the current configuration if Bichette prefers to stay at short.

The Giants, Angels, Red Sox, and Dodgers could emerge as interested teams if Bichette continues to portray himself as a viable second base option, broadening the market beyond just shortstop-needy teams, according to MLB Trade Rumors.