Analyzing a pair of Bo Bichette trade proposals that make sense for the Blue Jays 

The rumors have been swirling in regards to Toronto Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette ahead of the trade deadline. With the Jays heading towards selling mode, dealing the two-time All-Star could help accelerate the retooling and rebuilding needed to get the team back in the right direction. 

With that, a couple of attractive trade proposals have surfaced courtesy of Peter Appel of the Just Baseball Show. In one possible deal, the Blue Jays would be dealing with the offensive juggernauts in the Atlanta Braves with the following:

So we are talking about a major blockbuster here, with the Jays’ star shortstop and team ace going one way, while three top 10 pitching prospects and a viable future shortstop prospect from the Braves’ system would be coming back.

As much as Bichette and Gausman have been struggling so far in 2024, a potential change of scenery could get them back to their prior dominant form to provide full value to Atlanta. Orlando Arcia has done a so-so job as the Braves’ shortstop, but he’s certainly no Bichette, especially when Bichette can be at his best. Also, in adding Gausman, he can essentially replace Spencer Strider in the Braves’ rotation. Strider was lost for the season when he underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow.

Nevertheless, the Jays would still be ahead of the game, netting four big prospects that are among the top 5 in the Braves’ organization. AJ Smith-Shawver has struggled to a 5.97 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate Gwinnett this season. But he has seen action in the major leagues in each of the past two seasons and could be ready to take the next step soon. Hurston Waldrep has been the more promising prospect to date, toiling with a stellar 2.55 ERA with 100 strikeouts in just 84.2 innings over two minor league seasons. In doing so, he earned a promotion to the big league team in June where he made two forgettable starts before being put on the 15-day IL due to elbow inflammation. 

Despite being the third-ranked top prospect in the Braves system, Ritchie had dealt with injury woes that has limited him to just 13 starts in the past three years. Although when healthy, he has posted some strong numbers, with a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, along with 54 strikeouts in just 40 innings pitched. Finally, Nacho Alvarez Jr. might not be the next Bichette, but his ability to hit for average, along with adding some speed and solid plate discipline in his game, he should become a serviceable major league shortstop in the future. In three minor league seasons, he has hit .285 with a .794 OPS, 122 runs scored, 14 home runs, 114 RBI and 45 steals in 219 games played.