Bo Bichette's free agency revelation could give Blue Jays a leg up in retaining star

Bo Bichette is going to strike it rich in free agency. After hitting .311/.357/.483 with a 14.5% strikeout rate during the regular season, he made a gutsy comeback during the World Series and hit what, at the time, looked to be one of the most important home runs in Toronto Blue Jays history.

He saved face following an ugly 2024 campaign (70 wRC+), and most outlets and experts have him ranked as the second-best available free agent, behind only Kyle Tucker. Thus, it should be no surprise that so many are predicting a contract in excess of $200 million for the 27-year-old shortstop.

However, that's where an interesting quirk comes in. Bichette is ostensibly a shortstop -- he hasn't played any other position during the regular season in his career -- but he's long been one of the worst defensively. He was worth -13 Outs Above Average and -12 Defensive Runs Saved in 2025 alone, and his career marks (-32 OAA, -19 DRS) are downright putrid.

Bo Bichette's rumored position switch can only help Blue Jays' pursuit

After playing second base admirably in the World Series (he started there in four of seven games), it should be no surprise that other teams are interested in getting Bichette to switch positions on a full-time basis. There's two responses Bichette could give teams that are gauging his willingness to move off of shortstop, and both would benefit the Blue Jays.

The first outcome is that he is amenable to a position switch, which would be good for the Blue Jays' wallet and defense. Shortstops who can hit like Bichette are always paid a fortune, regardless of their defensive prowess; see what Xander Bogaerts got from the San Diego Padres a few off seasons ago as proof.

Bichette sliding over to second base would naturally drive his price tag down since there's not quite the same premium on defense at the keystone. Third base is a slightly different story, but the Blue Jays are likely content with Addison Barger and Ernie Clement handling the majority of the starts at the hot corner next year regardless.

Likewise, Bichette's weak arm is much easier to mask at second base than it is at shortstop, and it helps that the Blue Jays can slide Andrés Giménez over to shortstop in his place. The infield defense as a whole would get better as a result from the flip, and Bichette would be playing a less onerous position that could help keep him healthier as he ages into his thirties.

If he desires to stay at shortstop, though, Toronto should be fine with that outcome as well. They've already lived with his porous defense, and they have an elite defensive second baseman in Giménez (59 OAA, 67 DRS at that position in his career) who can help cover for many of Bichette's deficiencies up the middle.

Regardless of what position he mans next season, Bichette and the Blue Jays both appear to desire a reunion. If there's a path to making him cheaper to keep around and less of a burden on the infield defense, then all the better.