Last Updated on May 23, 2025 by Matt Musico
The New York Yankees enter play on May 23 with a 30-19 record and a comfortable five-game lead in the American League East. They’ve faced off against Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette for years, but is it possible he could be in pinstripes by the trade deadline?
The Jays are second in the AL East and two games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. With a 25-24 record, they could be one well-timed losing streak away from becoming a seller at the trade deadline. If that does happen, finding a new home for Bichette would make sense. He’s due to hit free agency this winter as he completes a three-year, $33.6 million extension.
ClutchPoints’ Garrett Kerman put together the following hypothetical trade, which he thinks would be enough to send Bichette to the Bronx:
- Yankees receive: shortstop Bo Bichette
- Blue Jays receive: shortstop George Lombard Jr., outfielder Spencer Jones, and right-handed pitcher Ben Hess
Bichette had a rough 2024 that included significant time missed due to injury. He slashed just .225/.277/.322 with four homers, 16 doubles, and 31 RBI in 336 plate appearances. The two-time All-Star has performed much closer to his career norms thus far in 2025, though. Through his first 227 trips to the plate this season, Bichette is hitting .289/.335/.417 with four homers, 15 doubles, and 25 RBI.
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Bo Bichette Landing With the Yankees Feels Like a Long Shot
There are several reasons why I don’t think Bichette will land with the Bombers — specifically for this hypothetical package.
If Toronto does make Bichette available for trade this summer, he’d just be a half-season rental. The proposed trade would send New York’s top three prospects, according to MLB.com, to the Jays. That’s a tremendous price to pay for a rental. It’s one that general manager Brian Cashman likely wouldn’t pay — and shouldn’t, in my opinion.
The Yankees also have Anthony Volpe entrenched as the starting shortstop. Unless they have plans to move the 2023 Gold Glove winner off that spot, Bichette would have to play a different position. That’s something he’s never done at the big-league level.
Last, but most certainly not least, the Jays’ first choice when it comes to trade partners probably wouldn’t be the Yankees, since they reside in the same division. The front office would probably deal with it if they could acquire New York’s top three prospects for Bichette, but on the flip side, there’s no way the Yankees would want to do that for a division rival, either.
The chances of Bichette seeing his name churn through the rumor mill in the coming weeks are high, especially if Toronto falls out of contention. But even if the Yankees realistically target the shortstop, it’d be shocking if any of Lombard Jr., Jones, or Hess — let alone all three — are included in negotiations.
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