Bo Bichette Open to Playing Second Base for Blue Jays

Bo Bichette’s free agency just got a lot more interesting. Reports say he’s now willing to move from shortstop to second base, which could totally shake up how teams see his value and what kind of offers he gets.

Let’s dig into what this positional flexibility actually means. We’ll check out his defensive skills and why his bat still makes him one of the top infielders on the market this offseason.

Bo Bichette Opens the Door to Second Base

For the first time in his MLB career, Bo Bichette has let teams know he’s open to playing second base. That changes things for front offices who love his bat but aren’t so sure about his defense at shortstop.

Until now, Bichette’s been locked in at shortstop. He’s handled a huge workload there, anchored the infield, and built his name as a key offensive player at a premium position.

A Career Built at Shortstop

Bichette has played all 6,184 of his regular-season defensive innings at shortstop. In the traditional sense, he’s a pure shortstop.

But modern defensive metrics have always been a bit lukewarm on his glove. Advanced stats usually grade him as average, sometimes below average.

The main knocks are about his range and mobility, not his instincts or hands. Analytics-driven teams notice that stuff, maybe more than ever.

Defensive Profile: Strengths, Weaknesses, and a Path at Second

When teams look at infielders, they try to separate style from substance. For Bichette, the results are mixed, but not a dealbreaker—especially if he shifts to second base.

His recent postseason stint gave us a glimpse of what a full-time move might look like.

Average Range, Trustworthy Hands

Bichette doesn’t get to as many balls as some top shortstops, but his hands and reliability stand out. Over the last three years, he’s kept his fielding errors pretty low.

He’s got soft hands and finishes plays he can reach. That combo—limited range but steady hands—often fits better at second base anyway.

The throws are shorter there, and you don’t need as much lateral quickness. A steady defender can look a lot better if he’s positioned right and has a great shortstop next to him.

Second Base Experience: Small Sample, Big Signal

Bichette isn’t totally new to second base. He’s got:

Those postseason innings mattered, especially since he was coming off a knee injury. Even so, his team trusted him enough to play second in October.

The Toronto Blue Jays kept Andrés Giménez at shortstop, seeing him as the better defender, but Bichette’s bat stayed in the lineup at second.

Bat-First Value: Why Teams Will Pay for Bo Bichette

No matter what people say about his glove, Bichette’s real ticket is his offense. Teams keep him high on their lists because of his bat.

He’s put up a .294/.337/.469 slash line so far, making him one of the most productive infield hitters out there.

Offensive Track Record with One Outlier

Except for a rough patch in 2024, Bichette’s been a steady force at the plate. He hits for average, has gap power, and enough pop to fit in the middle of any lineup.

That’s the kind of profile that gets you paid, even if you’re moving off shortstop. That’s why people are already talking about a $200 million-plus contract for him.

Market Dynamics: Who Can Actually Land Bichette?

Here’s the catch—not many teams actually need a shortstop upgrade right now. The Padres and Rays could use one, but they’re not likely to spend $200M+.

This is where Bichette’s openness to second base could really shake up the market.

New Suitors at Second Base

If Bichette really is flexible on defense, the list of interested teams opens up fast. Teams like:

could all see him as a legit second base upgrade instead of trying to squeeze him in at shortstop. For those clubs, Bichette’s bat at second would deepen the lineup and let them keep their current shortstops right where they are.

On the Toronto side, GM Ross Atkins keeps saying the Blue Jays are happy to let Bichette stay at short if that’s what he wants. But honestly, Bichette’s openness to second base gives Toronto—and any team interested—way more ways to make a deal work.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Bo Bichette Reportedly Open To Playing Second Base