The Toronto Blue Jays’ 27-year-old shortstop Bo Bichette made a dramatic return from a knee sprain that kept him out of action since Sept. 9, to make an impact in the World Series, collecting four hits and a pair of RBIs as the series heads to a crucial fifth game on Wednesday.
But with a big-money foray into free agency looming for Bichette, the World Series games are very likely his last in a Toronto uniform. And somewhat shockingly, according to one former major league general manager, Bichette could sign a contract to join the very team he is now fighting to defeat, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In a recent analysis published by The Athletic, former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden — who has made a second career as a baseball commentator — names the Dodgers as a “fit” for Bichette, whose “prime years have just begun and he’s one of the youngest free agents on the market.”
While Bowden says that Bichette, a seven-year veteran and two-time All-Star, could play “as a shortstop, a third baseman or a second baseman,” for the Dodgers — or whichever new team pays what CBS Sports projects to be his seven-year, $189 million asking price — the reality is that the son of former 14-year big leaguer Dante Bichette had never played a single major league game fielding any position other than shortstop.
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The streak ended only in Game 1 of the current World Series, when Blue Jays manager John Schneider shifted Bichette to second base.
Another leading baseball insider, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, also sees the Dodgers as a potential landing spot for Bichette, which would mean that “Mookie Betts could slide back into the outfield to open up shortstop in L.A.”
The move would be a natural one for Betts, who won four Gold Gloves as an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox, and another two with the Dodgers before that team decided he should play shortstop.
It wasn’t a bad decision. Betts has developed into a Gold Glove-level shortstop, leading MLB this year at the position with 17 defensive runs saved, and in the more traditional category of fielding percentage, ranking fourth at .985.
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