HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 16: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after a three run home run in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park on June 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Three potential landing spots for Bo Bichette.
Time is running out quickly for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays entered 2024 as a favorite to make the postseason, a potentially dangerous team that could go deep into October. Instead, Toronto (39-47) is in the AL East basement, more likely to sell at the July 30 trade deadline with each passing day. Although general manager Ross Atkins has been adamant that key players are not on the block, that could change. If so, players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette would be among the hottest commodities on the market.
We have already looked at three possible landing spots for Guerrero. Let’s take a look at where Bichette could end up.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians have one of the best records (53-31) in baseball despite mediocre production at short.
Brayan Rocchio was the Guardians’ sixth-best prospect at the end of 2023 according to MLB.com, a switch hitter with line drive power and high baseball intelligence. He has not lived up to that billing thus far in Cleveland, having produced a .218/.313/.315 batting line in 251 plate appearances, hitting three homers and 12 doubles. The Guardians rank 26th with a .606 OPS from their shortstops. Bichette is not living up to his usual standards, but he may need a change of scenery. He would also give Rocchio more time to develop as he is under team control through 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers do not have a problem at short. Mookie Betts has continued show his versatility, comfortably slotting in at short. He ranks fourth in the National League in zone runs saved at the position. The Dodgers’ problem is at second, where Gavin Lux has failed to recapture the form he showed before tearing his ACL.
Betts is sidelined as he deals with a wrist injury. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reported that manager Dave Roberts may shift Betts back to second given the surprising performance of Miguel Rojas. However, the Dodgers lineup is very top heavy, struggling to find consistency beyond the first five hitters in the batting order. Rojas has not performed at his current level over the course of a full season, the 2020 pandemic-shortened year excluded. Bichette would help lengthen the Dodgers’ lineup while keeping Rojas in the utility role that he is best suited for.
