Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider instructed reporters (together with Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet) that shortstop Bo Bichette is slated to endure surgical procedure to restore a displaced fracture in his proper center finger. Bichette was positioned on the injured record because of the fracture final week in a transfer that had already introduced his 2024 season to an in depth, and Schneider indicated that Bichette “ought to be good to go” come Spring Coaching in February.
Bichette, 26, endured the worst season of his profession this yr as he battled accidents and ineffectiveness all yr. The 2-time All-Star was restricted to simply 81 video games this season resulting from a number of IL stints attributable to calf strains this yr, and even when wholesome sufficient to take the sector he hit a lackluster .225/.277/.322 (70 wRC+) in 336 journeys to the plate. That’s a lower than excellent slash line for any common huge leaguer, however it’s particularly troublesome for a younger star who has by no means posted a wRC+ under 120 in his main league profession previous to this yr.
Previous to this yr’s injury-marred blip, Bichette has been among the many most constant stars within the league with a profession slash line of .299/.340/.487 (127 wRC+) getting into the 2024 marketing campaign. That robust pedigree was sufficient to generate some commerce buzz relating to Bichette forward of this yr’s commerce deadline because the Blue Jays fell out of the postseason image, although the membership appeared hesitant to deal both him or fellow star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. earlier than Bichette’s damage woes in the end snuffed out no matter risk for a deal to come back collectively there could have been.
Looking forward to the offseason, the Blue Jays have usually indicated that they hope to return to competition in 2025, and if actually the membership is dedicated to placing the absolute best crew on the sector for subsequent season it’s arduous to think about that being doable whereas additionally dealing both Bichette or Guerrero this winter. In fact, that doesn’t imply a commerce of both and even each stars is unattainable with one yr left earlier than the pair heads to free company, and it appears seemingly that this surgical procedure will do little to dissuade events from pursuing the shortstop on condition that he’s anticipated to be able to go by the point Spring Coaching rolls round.
The Blue Jays additionally offered an replace on the standing of heart fielder Daulton Varsho at the moment within the aftermath of his beforehand introduced surgical procedure to restore a rotator cuff damage in his shoulder. As famous by Scott Mitchell of SportsCenter, no additional harm was found in Varsho’s profitable rotator cuff surgical procedure at the moment, resulting in a normal process. That stated, Toronto was unwilling to decide to Varsho being prepared for Spring Coaching when his surgical procedure was first introduced, and Mitchell signifies even with the process accomplished his readiness for the beginning of camp remains to be up within the air.
In line with Mitchell, Varsho’s present timeline has him “toeing the road” to be totally prepared for this spring even within the occasion that he avoids any setbacks over the offseason. Nonetheless, even a delayed begin to Spring Coaching wouldn’t essentially cease the outfielder from being again in time to make the membership’s Opening Day roster in 2025. The 28-year-old loved a strong season in 2024, slashing a roughly league common .214/.293/.407 (99 wRC+) whereas additionally chipping in ten stolen bases and taking part in very good protection in heart discipline.
