As much as Jays believe in Bichette, they’re keeping options open
On one hand, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins forcefully makes the case that within a couple of years Bo Bichette has the potential to be a serious candidate for the Gold Glove Award as the American League’s best shortstop.
On the other — if the offseason buzz is true and there is no reason to question that it isn’t — the Jays are seriously looking at high-end options at the position as the free agency season moves along. Whatever way it plays out, the Jays developments at short will be one of the team’s more intriguing story lines of the off season.
First to Bichette and the Jays’ assessment of a player that in just 75 career bigleague games has emerged as a leader on the young team.
“It would not surprise me if in a year or two we’re talking about him in a Gold Glove category,” Atkins said on a Zoom call with media earlier this week. “Bo checks every box on professional athleticism and elite calibre players. He’s going to be a very, very good shortstop in our view for a long time.”
It’s worth noting that Bichette could well be the Jays shortstop of the future and continue at that spot next season. But as the off-season rumour mill heats up, it’s no surprise that the Jays have been linked to both Francisco Lindor (who the Cleveland Indians are openly shopping via trade to help payroll concerns) and Andrelton Simmons (the former Los Angeles Angel, now a free agent.)
While the approach may seem contradictory to Atkins’ comments on Bichette, it speaks both to the Jays conviction to improve in the off-season but also to the premium that the team places on versatility.
Using Cavan Biggio as a case study, the second-year pro played second and third base as well as all three outfield positions.
In Bichette’s case, a move to second wouldn’t be out of the question should the Jays land a potential upgrade at short. If that doesn’t happen, the team is more than willing to see Bichette continue his impressive development at his preferred position.
“I have so much confidence in Bo,” Atkins said. “How he thinks about improvement, the way that he’s gone about improving his entire life.
Every challenge that’s put in front of him he embraces in an elite way.”
And then comes the ‘but.’ “It doesn’t mean we’re out on shortstops altogether because of our conviction in Bo,” the Jays GM said.
“We have to stay in on every market and consider (whether) there are ways to get better and improving our team.
“But again, we very much believe in Bo.”
CASHING IN
Given the success the Rays had in 2020, it was always going to be a long shot that Jays manager Charlie Montoyo was going to upset Tampa Bay counterpart Kevin Cash for the AL manager of the year award which was announced on Tuesday night.
That said, it was a celebration for those two finalists given their strong friendship forged while working together with the Rays.
Fittingly, Cash paid tribute to Montoyo after winning the award for the first time in his career.