Genuine Bo Bichette suitor finally emerges as ex-Blue Jay's market clarifies

The market for Bo Bichette could start heating up soon as the bigger market clubs are making moves. After the NL Central runner ups, Chicago Cubs, made a massive move to bolster their starting pitching, many industry experts believe they are about to take some more swings in the free agent market.

One of those swings, according to a story on Bleacher Report, would be to land the home grown Blue Jays star.

Genuine Bo Bichette suitor finally emerges as ex-Blue Jay's market clarifies

The Cubs have reportedly landed Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins and Michael Cerami writes that the Cubs aren't done adding this winter. He says the Cubs could go into the year with a lineup that features Seiya Suzuki in right, Moises Ballesteros at DH, Matt Shaw at third, and Nico Hoerner at second base and Dansby Swanson locked in as the shortstop. But the club is eager to add to that group, and he circled Bichette as a key target for that upgrade.

He says, "Not only have the Cubs been more seriously connected to Bregman for the better part of a full calendar year, but adding him (or Bichette) would allow the Cubs to either (A) trade Nico Hoerner (unlikely, but increasingly discussed as a possibility) or (B) move Matt Shaw into a super-utility role for a season, while the Cubs determine whether or not they can extend Hoerner, a free agent after next season, long-term."

While bringing in Bichette would seem to create a log-jam at the moment, it's a log-jam the Cubs would be happy to take on. It gives them flexibility to make further moves to address other areas of need. It also would allow them to upgrade the offense without having to dish out a $400 million contract to Kyle Tucker. Bichette's best fit on this team would be as either their third baseman or as their DH.

Hoerner and Swanson have both been superior defenders at their positions compared to Bichette. Since 2020, Swanson has the highest defensive fWAR (78.0) in baseball among all infielders (not including catchers), while Hoerner is 11th (39.8). Bichette ranks 41st (5.5) and his Fielding Run Value is -23. However, among that group within the Cubs he brings a much higher upside to the plate than Ballesteros and Shaw, and some of his career numbers are better than Swanson and Hoerner.

His .294 batting average, .439 slugging percentage, .806 OPS lead that trio. Bichette's calling card has also been his ability to put the ball in play and rack up hits. He's got 904 career hits, trailing Swanson by 282, however, Swanson has 1,971 more plate appearances than Bo. Swanson, 31, also leads the 27-year-old Bichette in home runs by 53.

It's safe to say an investment in Bichette for the Cubs, for the right price, would be a good one as his bat certainly plays up among their current infield group. And after landing a big name pitcher, this a group who is right now seeing a window opening to compete for a division title, and a World Series championship. Adding Bo gets them closer to those goals.

From a Blue Jays perspective, their infield needs remain the same as it has since the beginning of the offseason. Even after signing Kazuma Okamoto, there is a spot for Bichette on this team to be either the every day second baseman or continuing being the team's shortstop. But, it feels like the clock is starting to tick louder on the reality that Bichette comes back to the Blue Jays.