Cubs New Trade Target is Bo Bichette to Play Third Base?

So, as always, take these offseason rumors with a grain of salt, and I’m really only writing this because I personally know the first person who hinted at this possibility and trust him to know he’s not making things up just to make them up.

Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast co-host, Kevin Fiddler, has been hearing that the Chicago Cubs are interested in trading for Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette, with the intent of moving the two-time All-Star shortstop over to third base.

This seemingly came out of left field, but this rumor is gaining steam.

A year ago, the Cubs were in on the big free agent shortstop class and eventually signed Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million contract. With that addition to the club, the Cubs were then able to shift Nico Hoerner over to second base and the duo entered the 2023 season with high expectations. The middle infield combo lived up to the hype and ultimately were rewarded with a gold glove at their respective position.

As for the Cubs’ previous interest in Bichette, MLB reporter Jon Morosi said in Dec. 2022, that if the Cubs missed out on the big-name shortstops at the time, then Bichette could get on their radar.

Via Audacy.

 Morosi also had an outside-the-box idea on how Chicago could pivot.

He believes the Cubs could eventually pursue Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette on the trade market. Bichette is under team control through 2025.

“Nobody has told me, ‘Hey, Bo Bichette is available,’ but like a lot of things in this industry, if you are getting closer to free agency and there’s no word of there being a (contract) extension in place, people start to ask, people start to wonder,” Morosi said. “I don’t think the Jays are there yet, but if both of those shortstops, Correa and Swanson, don’t go to the Cubs and the Cubs are very, very motivated to put a ton of their prospect value into a deal … I just believe there are some scenarios – not now – but later in the offseason in which the Jays would at least entertain the possibility of a Bo Bichette trade.”

But of course, the Cubs did sign Swanson, so the need for a shortstop is no longer present and the team is obviously well off with their stellar defense up the middle. However, the Cubs would definitely love an upgrade at third base.

In 2023, Patrick Wisdom, Nick Madrigal, Miles Mastrobuoni and then in the second half of the year Jeimer Candelario all took turns at locking down the hot corner with the Cubs. There was varying success, but now Candelario is a free agent, who isn’t expected to re-sign. Madrigal was great on defense, but despite a few hot stretches at the plate his offensive numbers were below average. Wisdom has been a great power hitter, but he’ll always have alarming strikeout numbers and is only serviceable at best on defense.

The Cubs do have 24-year-old Christopher Morel, who ideally could develop into their future third baseman, but the team doesn’t seem optimistic about that possibility and instead is focussed on him trying to find a home at first base while he plays Winter Ball this offseason.

A trade for Bichette would be big. He’ll turn 26-years-old next March and is still under contract through the 2025 season, owed $11 million in 2024 and $16.5 million in 2025.

Now, I’ll be honest, I was extremely skeptical when I was first made aware of this because why would the Blue Jays trade away Bichette? They’re trying to compete, not sell. Yet, if they feel like there’s no momentum toward an extension with Bichette, then trading him could net the Blue Jays a great haul. I’m assuming they want at least a few MLB players in return, and it’s easy to see them wanting Morel, plus some pitching, but I won’t go beyond that speculation just yet.

Bichette made his MLB debut during the 2019 season and he’s been a stud ever since. He has a career 127 wRC+, slashing .299/.340/.487, while posting a 5.1, 4.5 and 3.8 fWAR seasons the last three years with the Blue Jays.

Hey, I wouldn’t put anything past Jed Hoyer and the Cubs this offseason.

Earlier in November, MLB.com writer Juan Toribio discussed several possibilities for the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency this offseason, but he also brought up a couple trade candidates that did include Bichette.

Via MLB.com.

Gomes said shortstop Gavin Lux is continuing to progress after suffering a torn ACL and LCL, as well as a right hamstring tear. Lux has been doing drills and, if healthy, could be the team’s starting shortstop in 2024. The Dodgers, however, will continue to monitor the trade market for a shortstop, mainly Milwaukee’s Willy Adames and Toronto’s Bo Bichette. 

We’ll see if there are any more rumblings in the next few weeks regarding Bichette being in any other trade rumors.