The Atlanta Braves are seeking an upgrade at shortstop, especially after not securing a long-term solution this winter, and they could target Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette for the 2025 season. Orlando Arcia, who had an All-Star season in 2023, struggled in 2024, with his OPS dropping from .741 to .625, prompting speculation that the Braves may move on from him. Arcia’s contract includes a club option for 2026, which the Braves might decline in favor of adding a star like Bichette.
Although Bichette also had a subpar 2024 campaign, his performance is seen as an anomaly, as he had been an All-Star in both 2021 and 2023 and led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022, boasting a career .299 average prior to last season. However, his 2024 season was a down year, with his batting average dipping to .225. While the Braves could explore acquiring Bichette, it won’t come cheaply; The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the Blue Jays are open to trading him but would demand a high price.
Bichette, coming off a tough year, is under club control for just one more season, with a salary of $16.5 million in 2025, and he recently underwent surgery for a broken finger, though he is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Bichette, who signed a three-year, $33 million extension with the Blue Jays in 2023, is expected to be a significant name in free agency, and the Braves could be well-positioned to pursue him.
