Latest news with #Bichette
Newsweek
a day ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Tigers Trade Urged for $33.6 Million 'Luxury Item' Shortstop by MLB Insider
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Detroit Tigers, despite dropping three of their last six games, remain at the top of the American League Central — as well as all of MLB — with a 42-24 record. Led by a pitching staff with the fourth-lowest ERA (3.15) and an offense that has pushed across the fourth-most runs (325) in baseball, the surprising Tigers would seem to have no urgency to make moves at the trade deadline, or before. But that doesn't mean they should stand pat. That's why ESPN's top baseball insider, Jeff Passan, says Detroit should acquire Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette — if only as a "luxury item." MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 11: Manager A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers looks on after making a pitching change against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning at Target Field on April 11, 2025... MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 11: Manager A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers looks on after making a pitching change against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning at Target Field on April 11, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Tigers defeated the Twins 7-6. MoreBichette has been the subject of frequent trade talk all season, mainly because the 27-year-old son of four-time All-Star Dante Bichette — who played for five teams in a 14-year MLB career — is in the final season of a three-year, $33.6 million contract extension with the Blue Jays, the team that made him a second-round draft pick in 2016. The younger Bichette signed the extension before the 2023 season, allowing him to avoid arbitration with the Blue Jays — but still letting him become a free agent after this season. "Bichette's gap-to-gap power would play well at Comerica Park and lengthen a lineup that has scored more runs than anticipated," Passan wrote in his roundup of anticipated trade deadline deals. More MLB: Blue Jays Reportedly Expected to Refuse Bo Bichette Trade, Change His Position "After a homerless April, Bichette whacked seven home runs in May and slugged better than .500," Passan continued. "The Tigers don't need much. With their prospect depth, though, they can afford a luxury item." The Blue Jays would be likely to insist on an impressive return of prospect assets for Bichette, but the fact that the shortstop would be a "rental" for the remainder of the season perhaps brings his price down. Detroit's No. 2 overall prospect is also a middle infielder. But 20-year-old Kevin McGonicle is estimated by MLB Pipeline to be two more seasons away from big-league readiness. But McGonicle plus a major league ready pitcher such as No. 10 prospect Troy Melton — who has posted a 3.30 ERA in 43 2/3 innings for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens this year — may be enough to land the two-time All-Star Bichette. More MLB: Trade Scenario Nets Yankees Ex-$63 Million MLB No. 1 Prospect to Plug Infield Gap
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies Trade Idea Lands Blue Jays Star Bo Bichette, Replaces Alec Bohm
Phillies Trade Idea Lands Blue Jays Star Bo Bichette, Replaces Alec Bohm originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Reports have started to suggest that the Toronto Blue Jays could move on from infielder Bo Bichette. When at the top of his game, he's one of the better shortstops in Major League Baseball, and has proven that throughout his career by earning two All-Star nods, a .289 average, and a 118 OPS+. Advertisement With 100 home runs, Bichette also has some juice, despite his power numbers being down over the last 140-plus games, hitting just 11 in that span. If the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to make a blockbuster move at the deadline, it could come in the form of Bichette. The team needs a third baseman, but asking him to move over to the hot corner might not be the worst idea. In a recent trade idea from OnPattisons' Anthony SanFilippo, the Phillies would get very creative, however, with him suggesting that they could put Bryson Stott on the bench, with Trea Turner moving over to second. Philadelphia Phillies third base Alec Bohm (28) reacts in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Zanine-Imagn Images "Yes, he's a shortstop, and Turner plays there now, but you could do either one of two things - you can plug him at short and move Turner to second, moving Stott into a bench role," SanFilippo wrote. "Or, you keep Turner at short and ask Bichette to play third — which a lot of evaluators think he may have to do anyway when looking to sign a free agent deal after the season — and you move on from Bohm." Advertisement As he noted, the idea of putting Bichette at third base should be the better plan. Taking out Scott's bat in the middle of this lineup wouldn't be ideal, as he's proven to be a competent hitter at the big league level. Regardless, if the Phillies found a way to add a player of Bichette's caliber, they'd have to get creative and make sure they can work something out. Related: Phillies Get Major Mets News After New York's Horrible Francisco Lindor Injury Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calls Mount for Blue Jays to Make Bo Bichette Move After New Update
Calls Mount for Blue Jays to Make Bo Bichette Move After New Update originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to keep in step in the race to the top of the American League East standings. They are currently 5.5 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees, but are also on a hot stretch. Advertisement Toronto has won eight of its last 10 games, including Thursday's 9-1 drubbing of the Philadelphia Phillies to close out a three-game series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Shortstop Bo Bichette played a pivotal role in that win over Philadelphia, as he smashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to stretch Toronto's lead to four runs. He finished the contest 2-for-4 to raise his batting average in the 2025 MLB season to .279. Additionally, he extended his hit streak to nine games. According to the Blue Jays, the 27-year-old Bichette has posted four home runs and 10 RBIs while recording a 1.212 OPS over that span. That update by the Blue Jays led to calls from fans for Toronto to do right by Bichette by signing him to an extension contract. The two-time All-Star is a pending unrestricted free agent, as the three-year, $33.6 million extension deal he signed with Toronto in 2023 is expiring in the coming offseason. Advertisement "Maybe sign him?" said a fan on X. Another one said: "Yeah should prob resign him but what do I know?' From a commenter: "And the @bluejays need to sign him long term. Make it simple. Keep him there.' 'ALL STAR + EXTENSION NOW,' a social media user posted. Via a different commenter: 'Sign this man please.' Said another: 'Bo is back baby sign the extension.' Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) rounds the bases on his two-run home run against the E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Bichette has played his entire MLB career only with the Blue Jays thus far, but this year could be his last with Toronto, given the current situation of his contract. On the season, Bichette has a .324 OBP and .443 SLG through 62 games. Related: Phillies Trade Idea Lands Blue Jays Star, Replaces Alec Bohm This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Blue Jays Reportedly Expected to Refuse Bo Bichette Trade, Change His Position
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Toronto Blue Jays earned a win in their series with the Philadelphia Phillies after posting nine runs on Thursday and it could be a sign they've turned their season around. The team was a bit of a disappointment after it struggled out of the gate even with the additions of Jeff Hoffman, Anthony Santander and Andres Gimenez to the roster. Now the Blue Jays are above .500 with plenty of time to build some momentum toward the playoffs. Even with several weeks before the trade deadline arrives, the moderate success of the season up to this point seems to have settled any speculation that the Blue Jays might trade away star shortstop Bo Bichette as he heads toward free agency at the end of the year. Speaking with Jeff Passan on a recent episode of ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" podcast, Buster Olney noted the team is expected to refuse any trade inquiries on Bichette, given their primary executives' contract situations and investments up to this point. TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 28: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on before playing the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on March 28, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by) TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 28: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on before playing the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on March 28, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by) Sousa/Getty "No, because of the context of the Blue Jays, the fact that this is the last year for (president) Mark Shapiro in his contract, it's the next to last year for Ross Atkins their general manager, they spent $500 million on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to sign him to a long-term deal, they just did these renovations that went in place last year," Olney said. " And so, what I've heard is, people with other teams, basically saying, 'Yeah, there's no way they'll do that. There's no way they'd wave a white flag as early as July.'" However, Olney added that Bichette is expected to see a different sort of move, as he's no longer inspiring confidence as an everyday shortstop. "In doing this reporting, a lot of what I'm hearing is, 'Yeah, he's not a shortstop anymore. He needs to change positions,' " Olney said. Bichette has a .974 fielding percentage at shortstop so far this year, making it the second year in a row in which he's underperforming the league average. He has also seen his offense dip both this year and last compared to a stronger campaign two years ago, possibly because of the challenges of his defensive role. So, even as the Blue Jays hold onto every contributing asset they can for the remainder of the season, it seems Bichette could be poised for a move elsewhere on the diamond soon. More MLB: Nashville White Sox? Jerry Reinsdorf to Sell Team, Raising Fears of Move
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dodgers Land Bo Bichette in Trade Idea After Dave Roberts Comments on Mookie Betts
Dodgers Land Bo Bichette in Trade Idea After Dave Roberts Comments on Mookie Betts originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts recently stated that the team doesn't plan to move Mookie Betts back to the outfield, there could be a scenario where it makes sense at the trade deadline. Advertisement "I don't see us making a change even as we did last year. I don't see that happening," Roberts said, per Sonja Chen of "He's a Major League shortstop on a championship club.' With a recent report coming out from Jeff Passan of ESPN that Bo Bichette will be the best player potentially available by the Toronto Blue Jays, there's reason to believe that Los Angeles could be all over him. "Bichette is the headliner. While few contenders need a shortstop, he could shift to second and fill the need for a number of teams," he wrote. Now, not only have the Dodgers proven that they're willing to pay players in free agency, which Bichette hits at the end of the 2025 campaign, but the team is always looking to win a World Series. Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) fields a ground ball during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Parkhurst-Imagn Images Whenever the Dodgers don't win it all, it's typically viewed as a major disappointment. Advertisement They've dealt with many injuries, and some grace should be given in that regard, but nobody will be sorry for the Dodgers if things don't go as planned in October. Despite some of his numbers dropping in recent years, Bichette would only help them get closer to their goals. In the 2025 campaign, the shortstop who led the American League in hits twice throughout his career is hitting .277 with seven home runs. His power numbers have picked up recently after starting the year off on a tough home run stretch. If Bichette could come to Los Angeles and give them innings at shortstop and post an OPS+ of 120 or better, it's scary to think about what the Dodgers could be as a team. Related: Dodgers' Dave Roberts Shares Encouraging Michael Kopech Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
