Blue Jays All-Star slugger tells friends he'd 'welcome a trade', per insider

The Toronto Blue Jays are built around two young stars, but one of them reportedly wants to be traded.

It's been a season to forget for the Blue Jays, who were 44-54 entering Sunday, sixteen games back in the American League East and nine and a half games back for the last spot in the Wild Card race.

Various factors have contributed to Toronto's struggles in 2024, not excluding Bo Bichette's down year at the plate. After an excellent 2023 in which Bichette slashed .306/ .339/ .475, he's hitting just .223/ .276/ .321 through 79 games this season. Bichette has also suffered three calf strains this year, the latest of which placed him on the injured list on Saturday.

Might a change of scenery do the 26-year-old two-time All-Star some good? Bichette himself appears to think so.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that Bichette has expressed to friends that he would happily be traded.

"Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has told friends that he would welcome a trade, while first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. badly wants to stay in Toronto and is open to signing a long-term extension," Nightengale said.

Deadline chatter surrounding Bichette is likely to reignite in tandem with Nightengale's report, despite Bichette's calf issues. When healthy, Bichette is still a lethal hitter who could catch fire at any moment and greatly enhance a playoff team in the coming months.

July has been full of mystery, intrigue, and a good deal of anti-climax regarding trades in Major League Baseball, but a Bichette deal would certainly generate shockwaves.

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