Bo Bichette Has Stunning New Suitor from AL East

Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays free agent

Will the Toronto Blue Jays do what many around the sport are now expecting, and sign top free agent Kyle Tucker? If so, longtime Blue Jays fan favorite Bo Bichette could very well land in the arms of a Toronto heated rival in the AL East.

This rumor was first posited by Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic, who wrote that, while retaining their own free-agent, third baseman Alex Bregman, is a priority for the Boston Red Sox, "some with the club view Bo Bichette... as an intriguing alternative".

Bob Nightengale of USA Today was hearing the same thing as he arrived at the Winter Meetings, writing on Sunday:

If Tucker signs in Toronto, it would all but officially end Bo Bichette’s tenure north of the border, where he could wind up in Boston.

Bo Bichette has monster numbers in the home of the Green Monster

The Red Sox have already stated that Trevor Story will still be the team's shortstop in 2026, which would mean a shift to second base for Bichette, if he were to choose Boston. And based on his career numbers hitting in Fenway Park, it might be a good decision. Bichette has a .329 average in Beantown with a .907 OPS in 157 plate appearances. He has six homers and 30 RBIs in just 35 games there.

It would be tough for Blue Jays fans to see Bichette come back to the Rogers Centre wearing Red Sox colours, (be they green, yellow or red these days). But if it's the result of Tucker roaming right field in T.O., they might be persuaded to be okay with it.

It's thought by most observers that signing both Tucker for close to $400 million AND Bichette for in the neighbourhood of $200 million is a bit of a stretch to expect the Blue Jays to be able to pull off. They've already spent $240 million in free agency, for starters Dylan Cease ($210M) and Cody Ponce ($30M). Yes, if they somehow sign Tucker & Bichette, that would put their offseason outlay at an insane $800 million+.

However, if it meant keeping their own product Bichette from landing with Boston, perhaps it's worth it...?