Bo Bichette exited tonight’s sport after six innings. The Blue Jays shortstop got here up limping out of the batter’s field after hitting a line drive to proper area. Toronto introduced that Bichette suffered a proper calf harm. Supervisor John Schneider mentioned postgame that he was headed for an MRI (hyperlink through Keegan Matheson of MLB.com).
A pressure in the identical calf despatched Bichette to the injured listing final month. The 26-year-old infielder returned after a minimal stint. Tonight’s evident setback may ship him again to the shelf. Even a minimal IL keep would maintain him out by way of the July 30 commerce deadline.
With the Jays plummeting out of playoff competition, Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been the topic of some commerce hypothesis. GM Ross Atkins shot down the possibility of transferring both participant final month, however the Jays have fallen extra undoubtedly from the postseason fringe since then. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported final week that Toronto was nonetheless extra targeted on transferring impending free brokers. Bichette is beneath contract for $16.5MM subsequent season and can hit free company after the ’25 marketing campaign.
This summer time can be an inopportune time to deal Bichette even when the Jays hearken to presents on extra controllable gamers. This has been by far probably the most difficult season of his profession. He’s hitting .222/.275/.320 over 331 journeys to the plate. Bichette has 4 longballs after reaching the 20-homer threshold in three consecutive seasons. He may now be headed for his second IL stint in as many months.
In additional constructive harm information, the Jays welcomed Yimi García again from the 15-day injured listing earlier than at this time’s sport. The veteran reliever missed a month with ulnar neuritis in his elbow. García is considered one of six impending free brokers on the Toronto roster and has a powerful probability to maneuver earlier than the deadline. The appropriate-hander owns a 2.57 ERA by way of 28 innings. García is operating a personal-best 34.6% strikeout price whereas producing swinging strikes on 13.4% of his choices. He’s taking part in on a $6MM wage and must be a goal for contenders in search of a setup possibility.
Justin Turner is one other of the leases whom the Jays may look to maneuver this month. Dealing Turner would open the designated hitter spot. That’d theoretically open a possibility for Joey Votto. Sadly, the previous MVP’s homecoming with the Jays has been sidetracked by accidents. Votto damage his proper ankle throughout Spring Coaching and has spent the season on the Triple-A injured listing. He was set to start his stint for Triple-A Buffalo tonight earlier than tweaking his ankle throughout pre-game work (relayed on X by Kaitlyn McGrath of the Athletic). He’ll be reevaluated tomorrow.
