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The Cleveland Guardians currently hold a five-game lead in the American League Central. Cleveland has been one of the best teams in baseball so far in 2024. The Guardians have held strong despite losing ace Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery early in the season. Barring an immediate collapse the Guardians project to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline.
Cleveland has been searching for stability at shortstop ever since trading Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan believes Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette would be a good fit for the Guardians. In fact, Passan even went as far as to write that “there might be no better fit at the deadline.”
The Guardians are often hesitant to offer large contracts in MLB free agency. They have displayed a bit more willingness to make notable trades. Cleveland has acquired stars such as Andrew Miller and Josh Donaldson at the trade deadline in previous years. Guardians fans certainly remember how impactful the Miller trade was, as he played a pivotal role in the team's 2016 World Series run.
Cleveland also features enough prospect capital to entice Toronto. The question is whether or not the Blue Jays will truly consider trading Bichette. Toronto is in last place in the American League East, but they are only three games under .500 as of this story's writing. They are one good two-week stretch away from being in the AL Wild Card conversation.
Why would Blue Jays trade Bo Bichette?
The obvious answer is that Toronto may opt to sell at the trade deadline. Trading a star like Bichette needs more reasoning than just that justification, though.
Bichette has just one year of team control remaining after the 2024 season. He will enter free agency following the 2025 campaign barring an extension. Trading him now would present the Blue Jays with an excellent opportunity to receive a quality return.
Bichette is only 26 years old. He is one of the better shortstops in all of baseball. Bichette has struggled at the plate to begin the season, but he's a two-time All-Star who displayed the ability to find no shortage of success at the big league level in the past.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is another young star who the Blue Jays may consider trading away. Toronto could end up moving both players, moves that would signal a complete rebuild.
Of course, the Blue Jays may opt to trade one of the young stars and attempt to sign the other to a contract extension. Or, and this does remain a possibility, but Toronto may not trade either player.
If Bichette is made available, the Guardians should at least inquire about the shortstop.
Guardians need shortstop help
Bryan Rocchio, Gabriel Arias, and Tyler Freeman are all able to play shortstop. Andres Gimenez can also play the position, but he's settled in as the Guardians second baseman.
Rocchio, Arias, and Freeman are all hitting under .200, though. Cleveland does not even necessarily need a superstar at the position. Adding a reliable shortstop who can hit at a respectable level would give the roster a boost.
With that being said, acquiring a star like Bo Bichette would not hurt matters. It also makes more sense than just for the shortstop element of it all. Many of Cleveland's best hitters are left-handed (Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan, Andres Gimenez). Meanwhile, Jose Ramirez is a switch-hitter. Adding Bichette would provide the Guardians lineup with a star right-handed bat.
The fit makes sense both from an offensive and defensive standpoint. We are still in early June, however, so it remains to be seen if the Blue Jays will commit to being sellers before the trade deadline.
