Blue Jays $182M Two-Time All-Star Could Defect to Dodgers, per Insider

Major League Baseball’s free agency is now less than two months away, and all eyes in Canada will be focused on Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette.

Coming off an uncharacteristic down year, Bichette has reverted to his career norm this season and is setting himself up to make a windfall in free agency. But after Toronto shelled out $500 million for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the question is how far the Blue Jays will be willing to go to keep their two-time All-Star shortstop.

And is Bichette still a shortstop? Most defensive metrics have him as the worst defender at the position in MLB, but the issue could easily be remedied with a shift to third base, where range and lateral agility aren’t as necessary.

Assuming the Blue Jays want to keep Bichette, they’ve got lots of advantages to re-sign him. But there’s one big-market superpower who could certainly pose an intimidating challenge.

On Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post named the Los Angeles Dodgers, a long-rumored Bichette suitor, as a threat to nab the 27-year-old in free agency.

“The hit machine could also transition to 3B or 2B. Jays, (Texas) Rangers, (Boston) Red Sox, (Detroit) Tigers, (Los Angeles) Angels, Dodgers,” Heyman wrote.

Bichette is slashing .307/.352/.477 this season, leading the majors with 177 hits. Even with how good the rest of the offense has been, it would be a big blow for the Blue Jays to lose him.

How Bichette would fit in the Dodgers’ lineup is another fascinating question. Assuming Max Muncy’s club option is picked up, third base isn’t really an opening in LA, so either Bichette takes over shortstop and Mookie Betts slides to second, or the two are flip-flopped.

While every team on Heyman’s list could theoretically be positioned to steal Bichette away, it’s hard not to view the Dodgers and their $400 million tax payroll as the biggest threat.

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