Bo Bichette Opens the Door to Second Base as Free-Agent Market Shifts
When this MLB offseason first began, Bo Bichette was widely seen as the crown jewel of the shortstop market. Teams needing help at that premium position were expected to line up, creating a bidding war for the two-time All-Star. But as December turns into January, the conversation around Bichette has started to change in a meaningful way, largely because of how he is positioning himself for the next chapter of his career.
According to league sources, Bichette has made it clear to interested teams that he is open to moving from shortstop to second base. That openness is being viewed as a smart and practical move, especially given how teams currently evaluate his defense. Over the past few seasons, his metrics at shortstop have been among the weakest in the league. Last year alone, he posted a minus-13 Outs Above Average, tied for the lowest mark among all shortstops, and his five-year defensive numbers tell a similar story. Because of that, it has increasingly been believed that shortstop may not be his long-term home, possibly not even as soon as 2026.
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The idea of a position change is not coming out of nowhere. Bichette actually played second base for the first time in his big-league career during this year’s World Series. While it was only a seven-game sample, his performance was steady enough to convince evaluators that the transition is very workable. In a league where far more teams are searching for second-base help than shortstops, that flexibility immediately broadens his market.
There is also a familiar comparison being made around the league. Several insiders have pointed to Marcus Semien’s path as a blueprint. Semien moved from shortstop to second base on a one-year deal with Toronto in 2021, thrived at the position, and then turned that season into a massive long-term contract with the Rangers. Ironically, that move once allowed Semien to play next to Bichette. Now, Bichette may be following a similar road himself.
For the Blue Jays, this opens interesting possibilities. If Bichette were to return, Andrés Giménez could slide over to shortstop, with Bichette settling in at second. Around the league, teams like the Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Mariners, and Rangers are also being viewed as potential fits, especially given the thin free-agent market at second base.
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