We are a third of the way through the season, and the Jays are not out of the race for a Wild Card spot (three games back at the moment), but they can’t seem to get any momentum going.
If things stay like this or worsen, do you trade Bo Bichette? He’s hitting much better than last year, .270/.319/.391, but that’s still just a .103 wRC+. That’s not bad for a shortstop, but then he’s not a good defensive shortstop. FanGraphs has him at a -5 on runs above average, which would have him second worst in the AL at shortstop (J.P. Crawford is at -6).
Fangraphs has him at a 0.7 WAR, which is about a 2.0 on the season (if he continues at this level of play). Again, that’s not bad, but I don’t think he would sign a contract that paid him at that level.
At the moment, I can’t see him signing a long-term contract (at least at a value he would accept).
On the flipside of that, I’m not tired of watching him. We’ve been following his career for a while now. I’m invested in it. But that’s not a reason to keep him around.
I thought that part of the reason they traded for Andrés Giménez was so he could play short if Bo left. Giménez would have more value as a good glove/weak bat shortstop than as the same sort of second baseman.
Beyond that, I think it is time to move Bo out of the leadoff spot (not that we have many great choices for it). Bo doesn’t get on base enough for me to like him leading off. I don’t know where I’d put him in the order. Bat him third? Bat him fifth?
Who to bat leadoff? I’m not against the idea of Vlad in the spot. He’s the best bat on the team. He gets on base, even when he isn’t driving the ball. And the difference between batting first and second isn’t all that huge. When he does start hitting homers? I’m ok with him doing that from the top of the order. Shohei Ohtani hit leadoff, and no one gets too worried about wasting his home runs.
Or, you could platoon Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw in the spot?
I guess moving Bo out of the leadoff spot is like rearranging the deck chairs. Unless they start hitting with RISP, it really doesn’t matter what order looks like.
Anyway, let’s have the poll: