Could the Milwaukee Brewers Trade for Bo Bichette?

[Jake McKibbin]

The Blue Jays shortstop averaged 4.2 bWAR for three years from 2021-2023 from the left side of the infield, before last season was heavily affected by injuries. Should the Brewers seek to buy low, and broach a trade for the half-fallen star?

Image courtesy of © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

The Brewers need something on their infield: A little stardust, some razzle-dazzle to add some actual punch to a lineup that operates more on the line of pinpricks. Meanwhile, across the border, the Blue Jays are trying to keep their core and bolster it with star talent via free agency, but without any success over the last few years. While they're still attempting to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr to a long-term deal, they're much more likely to listen to offers on their talented shortstop, Bo Bichette—who has just one year remaining until he, too, hits the free-agent market.

Bichette's upside is well-known. A hitting machine, his bat-to-ball skills (even when chasing outside the strike zone) are superlative, and his power production is the kind the Brewers are in desperate need of from their infield. Bichette had 73 home runs from 2021-23; swatted 103 doubles over that span; and led the American League in hits in 2021. He showed that over a long period of time, he will consistently hit the ball hard, in the air, and avoid striking out at an above-average rate. Here's a breakdown of his skills progression from 2022 to 2023, via Thomas Nestico (@TJStats on Twitter).

Yes, he chases a lot, and he gets swing-happy even at the best of times, but his bat control is such that even when chasing, he makes solid contact. It lowers his walk rate, but because of the consistently high batting averages, his on-base rate is still above-average.

The other plus point for Bichette is his defense. He is a slightly below-average shortstop, but his range would be better than most third basemen, and he can more than competently play the left side of the infield—although second base may be a better fit for him in a roster picture that didn't include Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz.

The 2024 results were not what we've been used to seeing from Bichette, but a calf strain in the middle of June kept him out for a while, and that was followed by a fractured finger that finished off his season, Bichette had several hurdles he was attempting to push through. After a sluggish start to the season, he regained his old form and production in May and June, before the calf injury derailed him. We should feel some security about what a healthy Bichette will provide in 2025.

The price for Bichette in a trade will be higher than you might like, based on the idea that this is a buy-low situation. He's due $16.5 million on the final year of a deal he and the Blue Jays struck to avoid arbitration, which should mitigate his trade value somewhat, but it's also likely that his 2024 performance was an outlier, rather than a new standard—and to pry him away from the Jays, a team would have to be willing to bet on that very thing.

We also have to consider that, because of his profile and past performance, Bichette will likely command a qualifying offer, reject it, and provide a compensatory pick for the 2026 MLB Draft. That's a fairly minor consideration, but it gives Toronto incrementally more leverage. As such, acquiring Bichette would likely require the following:

Tyler Black (1B/LF) Brewers #5 - The Blue Jays have space in left field alongside Joey Loperfido, who has by no means proved himself at the big-league level just yet and offers an extreme strengths-and-weaknesses profile. Black could fill that, or—if things go a different way—he could blossom at first base beginning in 2026. The Blue Jays have the defensive versatility to find a home for Black amongst a variety of playing positions, and being Canadian, it seems like a nice fit for Black, after the Brewers re-signed Jake Bauers to a minor-league deal.

Juan Baez (2B/3B) Brewers #28  - A bat that profiles similarly to Bichette, Baez is swing-happy, but folds in a low strikeout rate due to his strong out-of-zone contact. In addition to sneaky power and a good hit tool, Baez seems capable on the left side of the infield, with good actions—although he is prone to mental errors at this early stage in his development. Baez shone in the Arizona Fall League at the stunningly young age of 19 and is a rising prospect, who should fill out the infield competently sooner, rather than later.

It is a costly trade, but if the Milwaukee Brewers want to maintain their competitive window, they need some infield reinforcements. They're trading away a strong offensive player who seems to be on the outside of what the Brewers need currently from a defensive standpoint, and a second/third baseman in a plethora of infield prospects the Brewers currently have in the minor leagues. Bichette is a difference-maker, and if the Brewers can catch him in an on-form year, he'll take them to a whole new level for 2025.

The salary is more than the Brewers may like to pay, but even so, I think he's the type of player that it's worth taking a flyer on to go a few million bucks over your budget. The bigger question is whether or not the Blue Jays pull themselves out of their lethargy for long enough to take advantage of what they have and bolster their long-term projections. They're unlikely to compete with the Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees this season, and trading Bichette would help them restock a farm system that currently ranks among the game's worst.

---

Would you make this trade for one year of Bo Bichette (plus a likely comp pick)? Would you make a deal, but offer less, or give up more to get it done? Or is he just not the type of player you can see on the Brewers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

 

View full article

[Brewcrew82]

Did you copy my idea? I’ve only posted about this like 3 times since the season ended? Lol

But yes they should seeing as it’s about as like for like as they’re going to get replacing Adames. Caveat being that Bichette play 3B.

[Brian]

As you said in the article, Brewer injuries: With Yelich, Hoskins, Mitchell and Frelick ... Bo Bichette would fit right in. I couldn't even fit in our pitchers injuries. I think it would be an issue. 

Bo Bichette:

DATE	INJURY
9/18/24	Finger
7/19/24	Calf
7/10/24	Calf
7/4/24	Forearm
6/15/24	Calf
3/31/24	Neck Spasms
8/27/23	Quad
7/31/23	Knee
6/21/23	Thumb
7/29/22	Shoulder
6/16/22	Leg
8/8/21	Shin
8/16/20	Knee
7/27/20	Hamstring
9/19/19	Concussion

 

 

[rafa]

Hmmm, to answer the headline .....NO!!!  I'd love to have Bichette and where are you going to find the money to pay him?  The Brewers are EXHAUSTED as in depleted financially.  Unless someone is going to take an incentive-based salary that would not exceed 4 million, the Brewers can't come close to this financially , not even remotely close. 

Sorry for the "juice" in this post but seriously, have you not followed that the Brewers are currently, as I am writing this, completely strapped?

[Jake McKibbin]

3 hours ago, rafa said:

Hmmm, to answer the headline .....NO!!!  I'd love to have Bichette and where are you going to find the money to pay him?  The Brewers are EXHAUSTED as in depleted financially.  Unless someone is going to take an incentive-based salary that would not exceed 4 million, the Brewers can't come close to this financially , not even remotely close. 

Sorry for the "juice" in this post but seriously, have you not followed that the Brewers are currently, as I am writing this, completely strapped?

Funny, I have two articles scheduled and this one has been published first. I'll leave it til the next lens published but I believe they may have slightly more to play with than initially believed based on two factors, but I'll keep the rest of the details close to my chest on this one.

If that is the case, what would your thoughts be?

[rafa]

I just read the new article Jack, VERY interesting to say the least. And, yes, while it might not get Bichette, it certainly would help in acquiring someone else.  Still, I need to see/hear a bit more before I completely accept this, even though I want to accept it very much.

[Michael Trzinski]

If money didn't matter, and Bichette was willing to sign a 3 or 4-year deal, I would trade Black and Baez for him 100 times out of a 100. But unfortunately, money does matter, so it puts the kibosh on that...

[sveumrules]

Maybe at the deadline if the Jays are out of it and Bichette’s performance has rebounded.

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

Maybe at the deadline if the Jays are out of it and Bichette’s performance has rebounded.

I’d just lean no the entire way. Bichette being a pending FA is likely unwilling to move off SS despite being the 3rd best SS defensively in Milwaukee. Players with Bichette like approaches always concern me. Poor BB:K ratio and very reliant on BABIP. I’d guess last year is probably a one off and he will bounce back offensively especially in a contract year but I don’t think it’s a guarantee. Despite that I think Toronto will consider his trade value like he never had the down season. I don’t think they are going to move him just to move him.

[Samurai Bucky]

@Brewcrew82 and I are on the same page (I posted a few things too). 😉

There are ways that contract extensions can be negotiated to help nail down the financial portion.

Bichette's chasing can go down.  I'm not worried about that.  Injuries can be a result of his inability to stay healthy, or perhaps there is a training staff issue.  The Brewers seem to have an uncanny way to get players to stay healthy (Yelich was a bit of an outlier with his substantial injuries).

In my opinion, make it happen.  He will definitely make the team better.