The American League East could be entering a more intense power struggle than it’s ever seen before.
Currently, the division boasts the last two World Series losers: the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox made the playoffs as well this season, and the Baltimore Orioles seem to be gunning for major offseason upgrades after falling out of the postseason picture shockingly early.
As the Yankees and Blue Jays jockey for front-runner status ahead of next year’s opening day, shortstop Bo Bichette’s free agency may become the biggest point of intrigue. The two-time All-Star has spent his entire career with Toronto to this point, but one insider believes he could be the ideal offseason pickup for New York.
On Sunday, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand tabbed the Yankees as the “perfect match” for Bichette, noting that both the shortstop and second base positions were mired in some level of uncertainty in the Bronx.
“Bichette and the Blue Jays could still have a reunion, but what if the Yankees made a strong bid for the shortstop?” Feinsand wrote. “Many view Bichette as a future second baseman, but with Anthony Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery and Jazz Chisholm Jr. set to become a free agent next year, Bichette could step in at shortstop and give New York a long-term plan at second base if Chisholm leaves.”
Bichette has still never played a regular-season game at second base in the majors, but after returning from his knee injury to play there during the World Series, many seem to be assuming that a permanent move is in his future. But could New York offer him at least one more year at shortstop than Toronto would?
Feinsand isn’t reporting any concrete interest in Bichette from the Yankees here, but the idea that New York could pivot from trying to re-sign Cody Bellinger to pushing for Bichette is an interesting one if it gains more traction.
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