While the Detroit Tigers haven’t made high-profile acquisitions like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, or Padres in recent years, they’ve quietly become the best team in baseball with a 40-22 record. Their success has come largely from drafting and player development. However, they may consider an unusually bold move at the trade deadline. ESPN’s Jeff Passan suggests the Tigers should pursue a trade for Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette.
Bichette is among the top shortstops in the game, and since Detroit is expected to be active in the trade market, acquiring him could be a smart move.
Proposed Trade:
- Tigers get: Bo Bichette
- Blue Jays get: Thayron Liranzo (MLB No. 85), Cris Rodriguez (Tigers No. 8)
With Javier Báez now playing in the outfield, Trey Sweeney has taken over at shortstop. While defensively solid, Sweeney has struggled offensively, hitting just .230 with four home runs. Bichette would be a major offensive upgrade and could also play second base when needed. He’s hitting .277 with seven home runs this season and, at age 27, is already a two-time All-Star. Though he had a down year last season, he’s previously hit over .300 in three different years and looks to be returning to form.
The Tigers boast a top-tier farm system, with five prospects ranked in MLB’s top 100, so they have the assets to make a trade like this. Since Bichette would be a rental player, Detroit might only need to give up one of those top prospects. Sitting atop the standings now, the Tigers need to go all in, and Bichette could be a key piece to maintain their edge over other elite teams.
Will Toronto trade Bichette?
The Blue Jays are in a difficult position in the ultra-competitive AL East. Catching the Yankees seems unlikely, and they’re locked in a close battle with the Rays, Red Sox, and resurgent Orioles. With a record just slightly above .500, Toronto faces a tough decision.
Trading Bichette would be a significant move, especially with the risk of losing him in free agency. They recently committed to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a massive contract, so they need to evaluate whether keeping Bichette complements that investment or if trading him for valuable prospects is the smarter path forward.
At this point, the Blue Jays may be better off waiting before deciding whether to buy or sell at the deadline. A possible contract extension for Bichette remains on the table, and as the trade deadline nears, Toronto will have a clearer picture of both their playoff chances and Bichette’s long-term future with the club.
Bailey Bassett is a writer for ClutchPoints, covering the NBA, NFL, college basketball, and MLB. A Colorado State graduate, he’s previously worked for several local news outlets in Denver.
