Blue Jays can finally replace Bo Bichette with pre-lockout trade, but it'll take a lot of courage

The Toronto Blue Jays will be upgrading their offense this offseason after an ugly team-wide effort at the plate in 2026 -- that part is not in question. What's less certain is at which positions the organization will look to upgrade, since most of the premium spots in the lineup (e.g., the infield corners and center field) are already accounted for.

That makes the middle infield perhaps the most obvious weak point on the roster. It's not that second basemen and shortstops were awful for the Blue Jays this year -- they ranked 17th in fWAR (1.7) at the former position and 18th (2.6) at the latter -- but rather that their contributions at the plate were uninspiring. Led by Ernie Clement, the keystone position produced a 92 wRC+; shortstops, a group comprised of only Clement and Andrés Giménez, generated a 78 wRC+.

As such, FanSided floated the concept of a CJ Abrams blockbuster trade, one which would bring the 26-year-old infielder to Toronto. But as good as hit bat would look atop John Schneider's lineup, such a move could throw a lot of things into flux.

Trading for CJ Abrams would help fix Blue Jays' offense, but there are serious risks

The prospect cost to acquire Abrams is obviously the biggest reason for hesitation. Still under contract for two more years, he'd require the Blue Jays to dig into their thin farm system and trade some valuable young pitching, which might be unappealing after all the injuries they dealt with in 2026.

Of course, Abrams would be worth the cost; he hit 33 homers and stole 34 bases this season, posting a 124 wRC+ that would have ranked second on the Blue Jays behind only Brett Bateman. After failing to adequately replace Bo Bichette's impact in the lineup, a trade for Abrams would immediately solve that issue.

There are significant concerns about his defense, since he's accrued -63 Outs Above Average at short throughout his career. The Blue Jays are well-versed in making up for poor defensive play at shortstop after years of building around Bichette, but that's untenable levels of play at such a key position.

FanSided's proposal suggests Abrams would permanently move to second base upon his arrival in Toronto, though that may not be the best way to start the relationship considering his agent publicly expressed disapproval of the position change when the Nationals asked him to do it. It would also displace one of Giménez or Clement, though the latter may be best in a utility role regardless.

After finishing in last place in the AL East, the Blue Jays should have reservations about going all-in on a player with serious flaws and just a couple of years of team control. But if they're committed to fixing their lackluster lineup, there are few options better suited to aid in that goal than Abrams.

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