Ross Atkins throws cold water on the idea of trading Bo Bichette anytime soon

In recent months, there had been a fair share of rumblings on the possibility of Toronto Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette being on the move. Trade rumors had been swirling about around the trade deadline this past season and some had even carried over into the offseason. In fact, Bichette was previously shopped by the Jays even as early as last offseason, according to Blue Jays insider Scott Mitchell.

As a result, there was speculation that Bichette’s days in a Blue Jays uniform could be coming to an end this offseason, especially when potential extension talks still seemed to be dormant as of this moment. However, we finally have a better idea of what the future could hold for the 26-year-old superstar.

According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, Jays general manager Ross Atkins had informed him that his answer would be “an easy no” if any teams came calling to inquire about Bichette’s availability in a potential trade. With that stern assurance by the head honcho, it appears as though the future plans of the Jays still included the star shortstop.

That could actually mean both good and bad news for Toronto and their fans going forward. The good news is the fact that the Jays truly believe that Bichette can bounce back from his dreadful 2024 season in which he batted just .225 with a .598 OPS, along with 29 runs scored, four home runs and 31 RBI in 81 games played. He was also plagued by numerous injuries along the way, which no doubt had an effect on his overall effectiveness.

The bad news is the fact that with the Jays’ decision to hold onto Bichette, an extension will soon likely follow. With fellow teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also in need of an extension soon, the sudden investment could severely limit the Jays on how much they could spend in free agency this offseason. As a result, the dreams of landing superstar Juan Soto have now gotten that much bleaker.

Nevertheless, the convincing words given by Atkins to shut down any more potential trade talks and distractions is just exactly what Bichette needs to refocus and get his game back on track for the 2025 season. If Bichette is definitely an integral piece of the Jays’ core going forward, this upcoming year will be crucial in determining whether their investment in the star shortstop will indeed be worth it.