The Toronto Blue Jays have faced a rocky start to the 2025 season, struggling to find their rhythm as they trail 6.5 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees in the American League East. This disappointing performance has fueled growing speculation about Bo Bichette’s future, with trade discussions emerging as the team faces ongoing difficulties. The focus on Bo Bichette trade speculation amid Blue Jays struggles highlights the uncertainty surrounding the team’s direction this season.
Despite the shaky start, the Blue Jays remain a complicated team to evaluate. After making a massive financial commitment to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a $500 million contract, the franchise’s strategy regarding Bichette remains unclear, especially as they consider offseason moves. However, if the Blue Jays continue to post losing records, pressure will mount to reassess their roster and payroll.
Trade Possibility Rises as Performance and Payroll Concerns Mount
Analyst Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has identified Bichette as the most probable player to be traded at the midseason deadline. Miller explains that if the Blue Jays continue to perform below .500, calls about Bichette’s availability are likely to increase. The team has not had a winning record in over a month and faces the challenge of remaining under the luxury tax threshold, which could require shedding nearly $30 million from their payroll.
To meet these financial limits, the Blue Jays may need to part with players who still have multiple years of team control, like Bichette. The free agent eligibility of both Bichette and Chris Bassitt adds to the pressure to consider trades. However, options to keep Bichette also exist as he recovers from a tough 2024 season marked by injuries.
“Bichette had a dreadful and injury-filled season in 2024, but he’s looking back to at least 90 percent of his old self these days, batting .292 and only a few slugging percentage points away from matching what fetched him AL MVP votes in each year from 2021-23,”
—Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
How Valuable Is Bo Bichette on the Trade Market?
Should the Blue Jays decide to make Bichette available, several major league teams would likely express strong interest. Contenders such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Detroit Tigers could all benefit from adding a skilled infielder capable of contributing immediately. Although Bichette is approaching free agency after this season, many teams may consider acquiring him for the potential impact he can provide in the short term.
Zachary Rotman has also weighed in on Bichette’s potential trade, suggesting that the infielder’s return for the Blue Jays beyond 2025 appears unlikely. Rotman points to the internal depth available to Toronto, which includes promising players ready to step up if Bichette departs.
“When he’s right, he’s a great player, and is off to a solid start to his 2025 campaign,”
—Zachary Rotman
“With that being said, Bichette is coming off a down year in 2024, is going to be asking for a lot of money, and the Jays have a plethora of replacement options for him internally. Andres Gimenez, Will Wagner, Orelvis Martinez, and Addison Barger are all either in the majors or knocking on the door, and can all realistically be viewed as long-term solutions in some capacity.”
—Zachary Rotman
Implications for the Blue Jays: Planning With or Without Bichette
The Blue Jays’ strategy regarding Bo Bichette will greatly influence their offseason moves and longer-term outlook. If the organization aims to retain Bichette, trading him would not align with that goal. Given his modest power numbers so far in 2025—just four home runs and a 109 OPS+—along with the limited time left on his current contract, it is unlikely any team would offer a significant return in exchange for him.
However, if Toronto decides to move on before he hits free agency, focusing on developing younger internal options may be the preferred path. With several promising players ready to fill roles at shortstop and other infield positions, the team could reshuffle its roster to stay competitive while managing payroll and luxury tax concerns.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Blue Jays face a pivotal decision that will shape their competitiveness in the near term, making the ongoing Bo Bichette trade speculation amid Blue Jays struggles a critical storyline for the 2025 season and beyond.