Blue Jays trade idea swaps Bo Bichette for $108 million three-time All-Star | Sporting News
As both players enter their final year of team control, their two 2024 seasons couldn’t have been more different. Guerrero excelled and likely earned himself a hefty paycheck next winter in free agency, while Bichette floundered.
Though the 26-year-old shortstop posted a shocking .598 OPS in 82 games, he’s still got a strong track record. A two-time American League All-Star who had the most hits in the AL in 2021 and 2022, there’s every chance Bichette could rebound in 2025.
Will he do it in Toronto, though? There’s a solid chance the Blue Jays won’t be able to re-sign both Bichette and Guerrero, so an argument can be made to trade the young shortstop, even with his value at a low point.
Content creator Jim Riley recently evaluated hypothetical trades in a YouTube video, and strongly supported a move that would ship Bichette to the Seattle Mariners for three-time All-Star starting pitcher Luis Castillo.
“Get Bo Bichette. You have one year of Bo. It improves your offense. Try to work out an extension,” Riley said from the Mariners’ perspective.
“If you can’t work out the extension, at least Castillo has turned into something that helps you with the bats and saves you some money. You can go add another piece.”
Castillo, 32, had a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts last season, striking out 175 batters in 175 1/3 innings. There’s some concern about his fly ball rate translating to more home runs away from the pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park, but he’s proven to be a workhorse throughout his career.
The Mariners might consider Castillo’s contract something of a burden right now, but it’s really not too difficult to stomach. It pays $72 million over the next three seasons, with a vesting option for 2028 if he throws 180-plus innings in 2027.
If the Blue Jays are getting a number-two or even three starter who can post close to 180 innings for the next four years, that pays for itself, even at the loss of one year of Bichette.
