New York Yankees Have Checked In On Bo Bichette
Jon Heyman reported that the Yankees are among several teams to check in on Shortstop Bo Bichette. With New York actively seeking to add more right-handed hitters to their lineup, Bichette appears to be an ideal fit. The question remains: will Brian Cashman be willing to pay the steep price required to acquire the star infielder?
Yankees Showing Interest In Bichette
While Bichette hasn’t been heavily linked to many teams this offseason, the market for him could pick up soon. With Anthony Volpe sidelined for a couple of months after shoulder surgery, the Yankees are set to start Jose Caballero at shortstop. Bichette could be an ideal fit at the top of New York’s lineup and provide the right-handed bat Brian Cashman is looking to add this winter.
Bichette has hit over .300 in two of the past three seasons and has maintained an OPS above .800. Despite a knee injury, he continued to hit at an elite level. In the World Series, he slashed .348 with a home run and 6 RBI. Consistently one of Toronto’s top postseason performers, he’s highly attractive to teams across the league. However, his defense is a liability. He posted a -13 outs above average this season, one of the lowest marks among MLB shortstops.
It’s also worth noting that Bichette has informed teams he’s open to moving to second base this offseason. While he may not be a Gold Glove defender there, he’s likely to perform better on the right side of the infield. When he returned from his knee injury late in the regular season, Toronto shifted him to second for the World Series, and he adjusted well to the position.
Will The Yankees Trade Jazz Chisholm?
In the same report connecting New York to Bichette, Heyman also mentioned that the Yankees are receiving inquiries about Second Baseman Jazz Chisholm. The Yankees reportedly would only pursue Bichette if he could be their everyday second baseman, which would likely require trading away Chisholm. Although dealing Chisholm might seem surprising, there are solid reasons it could be the right move.
It doesn’t appear that the Yankees are making re-signing Chisholm a priority, and they would likely welcome a strong return for him while he’s still under contract. Chisholm’s new approach at the plate worked during the regular season, but he reverted to his old habits in the playoffs. Plus, his history of injuries could give the Yankees added reason for concern.
Chisholm also doesn’t seem like the type of player Brian Cashman would champion. He’s had his share of off-field issues, frequently clashing with critics on social media. If the Yankees receive an offer that strengthens their roster, they’ll probably move forward with a trade.
