By Jackson RobertsShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberNow that the Toronto Blue Jays appear to have made their big starting pitching splash, all eyes are on Bo Bichette.
News of the Blue Jays' reported agreement with star pitcher Dylan Cease broke earlier this week, and his expected seven-year, $210 million contract certainly isn't a small commitment. But it's hard to believe the club would have shelled out that money so early in the offseason if it didn't expect to be able to afford Bichette as well.
Nevertheless, Bichette's stay in Toronto, which began in the summer of 2016 during the draft, is not guaranteed to continue by any means.
...On Sunday, Blue Jays insider Keegan Matheson of MLB.com made the case for why Bichette might and might not stay put in Toronto, and made a fairly strong argument detailing why there could be another team that makes a commitment the two-time All-Star would prefer.
"Bichette’s market will have a wide gap between its ceiling and its floor," Matheson wrote. "Some clubs will view Bichette as a second baseman and point to his declining baserunning and athleticism. Other clubs will accept that his offensive upside is enough to cover up some defensive shortcomings and still consider him a shortstop.
"The Blue Jays have said publicly that they’re open to Bichette playing short, but it’s clear that Andrés Giménez could be a Gold Glover at that position if Bichette plays second. Money matters, and while Toronto could hold a tiebreaker in a tight bidding war, that sentimentality isn’t going to be enough to make up for any significant financial gap once his market finally flourishes."
It has felt all along like the odds of Bichette re-signing hinge greatly on the shortstop question. Is the 27-year-old alright with shifting off his natural position, especially if it's the Blue Jays telling him they no longer trust him to man it? And will another team step up and tell him he can have a blank check to stay at short?
The winter meetings are barely a week away, so we may not have long to wait for answers.
More MLB: Blue Jays Could Cut Ties with Promising 26-Year-Old: Insider
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
MLBDodgers Linked to KBO Star in Unexpected Free Agency Move3 min read
MLBPhillies Projected To Sign Star Slugger To Huge 7-Year, $140 Million Deal2 min read
MLBRed Sox Could Cut Ties With All-Star In Offseason Trade: Insider2 min read
MLBRed Sox Projected To Sign Star To 3-Year, $66M Deal After Sonny Gray Trade2 min read
MLBMets Projected To Sign All-Star To 4-Year, $80M Deal After Dominant Season2 min read
MLBPhillies Star Pitcher Projected To Sign Huge 5-Year, $110M Deal With Tigers2 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
PoliticsKristi Noem Says National Guard Shooter Was ‘Radicalized’ in the US5 min read
WorldVenezuela Hits Back After Donald Trump Announces Airspace Closure4 min read
NewsPope Leo Backs a Palestinian State During Mideast Trip: ‘Only Solution’5 min read
NewsThousands of Flights Delayed, Hundreds Canceled as Winter Storm Lashes US3 min read
NewsDonald Trump Has Taken Prince Harry’s Crown8 min read
NewsNetanyahu Requests Pardon from Israeli President After Trump Push4 min readTrending
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 13 Inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Extreme Caution’3 min read
NcaaNick Saban Has Harsh Message for Ole Miss Amid Lane Kiffin Decision3 min read
Donald TrumpMap Shows Donald Trump’s Approval Rating in Each State After 10 Months4 min read
AldiAldi Recall Update: Customers Told Discard Christmas Products ‘Immediately’3 min read
Donald TrumpDonald Trump Secures $75 Million Northwestern Deal: ‘Huge Win’4 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
