The Atlanta Braves are struggling to get above .500 and stay there. Perhaps they could use another shot in the arm.
Hopefully, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return gives the Braves some of the momentum they need to get back into the division title race. But one slugger doesn’t make a whole offense, even if they’re a former Most Valuable Player.
There are still two months until the trade deadline, so the Braves have some work to do to make sure they’ll be in the “buyers” camp. But if they are, it’s not hard to predict that shortstop would be a position they’d love to target.
Former starter Orlando Arcia lost his job and was later designated for assignment. That left the Braves counting on Nick Allen, who has a career OPS+ of 58, to be their main option at the position.
On Sunday, Chase Owens of FanSided named Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, a two-time American League All-Star, as a top speculative trade option for the Braves at the Jul. 31 deadline.
“Nick Allen has been a wizard defensively for the Braves, but it’s no secret he’s not a good hitter at the Major League level. Should the Blue Jays fall out the American League playoff race, Bo Bichette is an often discussed name that could lengthen Atlanta’s lineup,” Owens wrote.
“Bichette would be a rental, so the cost wouldn’t be drastic… and his bounce-back 2025 has proven (he’s) still a very good hitter. Should the Braves’ offense continue to ride this rollercoaster during the summer months, a surprise move for Bichette could come to fruition.”
Bichette’s numbers aren’t quite up to his career standards as of Sunday, but a .738 OPS and 19 extra-base hits would still be big improvements for Atlanta at the shortstop position. His $33 million arbitration extension expires in November, so it would be intriguing to see if the Braves (or any team, really) made him a nine-figure offer in free agency.
Of course, this is all predicated on the Blue Jays being willing to sell. That cannot be guaranteed at this point, but they did so last year, so there’s definitely a shot.
