The Toronto Blue Jays placed shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right-calf strain and recalled rookie outfielder Addison Barger from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Bichette missed the final four games of the first half of the season due to a calf injury and then strained his right calf in the second-half opener on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers. There's a good chance now that the 26-year-old will miss more than the 10 days on the injured list, and he's unlikely to be dealt before the July 30 trade deadline as well. Leo Jimenez replaced Bichette on Friday night at the 6 and will likely become the team's top option at the position moving forward. Bichette shouldn't be outrighted dropped in fantasy leagues, but he's been one of the most disappointing players in all of baseball this year, hitting just .223/.276/.321 with four homers, 30 RBI and five steals in 305 at-bats after making his second All-Star appearance in 2023.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (leg) left Friday night's game early after coming up limping during a lineout in the bottom of the sixth inning. He was replaced by Leo Jimenez in the top of the seventh. Bichette was seen grabbing at his right leg as he ran down the first base line, a sign that it may be related to his recent right-calf strain that forced him to miss the final four games before the All-Star break. The team has not stated anything else in regards to Bichette's injury, but a clearer picture on Bichette's health should be announced by the team after they conclude their game against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Fantasy managers will certainly be holding their breath on the 26-year-old's status, especially since he's already been forced to miss time. Should Bichette be out for a lengthy absence, fantasy managers should expect Jimenez to continue to get starts. Jimenez has eight hits in 22 at-bats during the 2024 season for a .936 OPS. UPDATE: Bichette was removed with a right-calf strain.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) is back at shortstop and is hitting fifth in the batting order on Friday in the first game of the second half of the season versus the visiting Detroit Tigers and right-hander Jack Flaherty. Fantasy managers have to be happy to see Bichette back in action after he missed the final four games of the first half due to a right-calf strain. After a terrible first half, hopefully the 26-year-old will be able to turn things around in the second half, although it will be a tough first matchup in his return. Bichette does have a .400 average with a .900 OPS against Flaherty in his career, but only in five at-bats. The former second-round pick in 2016 was one of the biggest disappointments in the first half for fantasy managers, hitting just .222/.275/.321 with four homers, 30 RBI and five stolen bases in 302 at-bats.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) remains out of the starting lineup for a series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Rookie Leo Jimenez will take over at shortstop again and bat ninth for Toronto against Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson. Bichette is officially dealing with a fascia strain in his right calf that he suffered on Wednesday and will miss his second straight game. The 26-year-old went to the injured list earlier this year with an injury to the same calf, so with the All-Star break coming next week, it wouldn't be a surprise if he sat out the rest of the weekend. In addition to the calf injury, Bichette has been one of the biggest disappointments in all of baseball in 2024. Jimenez will be playing in just his sixth major-league game on Friday, although he's gone 5-for-14 (.357) with a double and RBI in his first five games.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) is out of the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the hosting San Francisco Giants after being pulled from Wednesday's contest early with right-calf soreness. Bichette's frustrating 2024 season continues. The Blue Jays are on the verge of being sellers at this year's trade deadline, but the fact that the 26-year-old is now hurt and has been slumping all season could mean that Toronto will hang onto him and trade him in the offseason or next summer. His calf injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but it's something to watch after he landed on the injured list back in June with a strain of the same calf muscle. With Bichette out in San Fran, Leo Jimenez will man the 6 and bat in the nine-hole for the Jays against Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks. UPDATE: Bichette has a right-calf fascia strain, according to manager John Schneider. The team is considering it day-to-day for now, but a player will likely join them for the weekend series in Arizona just in case.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) was removed from Wednesday's game against the hosting San Francisco Giants with right calf soreness, and Leo Jimenez entered the contest for him in the fourth inning. Bichette dealt with an issue to the same calf in mid-June and missed 10 days on the injured list. There was no apparent moment where the injury occurred on Wednesday, however, so there should be at least some optimism that it's not a significant problem. Bichette struck out in his only plate appearance of the night, dropping his average on the season to .222 and OPS to .596 with just four home runs, 30 RBI, 29 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 302 at-bats. Fantasy managers should deem the scuffling 26-year-old infielder day-to-day until more information becomes available ahead of Thursday's clash with the Giants.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (forearm) is back at shortstop and is batting second on Friday against the hosting Seattle Mariners and right-hander Luis Castillo. The Mariners held Bichette out of Thursday's series finale against the Houston Astros as a precaution after he was hit by a pitch on Wednesday. The 26-year-old will return after missing just one game. Fantasy managers are hoping that the former second-rounder in 2016 out of a Florida high school can finally put together a good stretch of at-bats as we near the All-Star break in mid-July. It's been a highly disappointing 2024 campaign for the All-Star, as he enters Friday's action with a .229/.282/.331 slash line, only four home runs, 29 RBI, four steals and 28 runs scored in 284 at-bats. Bichette has also hit just .222 with an RBI in nine career at-bats versus Castillo.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (forearm) has been scratched from Thursday's lineup against the visiting Houston Astros. Rookie Leo Jimenez will make the start at shortstop in Bichette's place and bat eighth against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. Rookie Spencer Horwitz will draw into the lineup at second base and bat fifth. Bichette is dealing with a right-forearm contusion after being hit by a pitch in Wednesday's contest versus Houston. The 26-year-old is a little sore, but it's not a serious injury and he should be considered day-to-day. There's a good chance he'll be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners. This will be Jimenez's first action in the big leagues since being called up earlier this week.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette's defensive shortcomings make him a poor fit for the Los Angles Dodgers in a trade this summer. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, going back to his days of running the Tampa Bay Rays, is a stickler for defense. Rival evaluators say the 26-year-old Bichette can get careless at shortstop, rushing at times. He's also been on the injured list with leg injuries three times in the last year, perhaps contributing to his diminished range. Bichette entered Sunday ranked 23rd among shortstops in outs above average and 28th in defensive runs saved. In addition to his poor defense, Bichette's .623 OPS was the eighth-lowest in the majors. A change of scenery could be good for him, but as of now, it's looking more likely that he'll stay in Toronto until maybe next summer.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette Expected To Stick Around A While Longer
The Toronto Blue Jays want to make one last run with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette, so they should both be staying around past this summer's trade deadline until at least this winter, if not next summer. However, with their season already on the brink, they plan to place left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, catcher Danny Jansen, reliever Yimi Garcia, designated hitter Justin Turner and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on the trade block. After the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss on Canada Day on Monday to the Houston Astros, Toronto is currently in dead last in the American League East while sitting eight games out of the last wild-card spot. Guerrero has been hot of late but is also dealing with a finger injury he picked up on Sunday, while Bichette has just not been able to get it going consistently on offense in 2024.
