After a disappointing 2024 season that fell well short of expectations, the Atlanta Braves are expected to be one of MLB’s busiest teams this offseason. One major area of need? Shortstop.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently linked Atlanta to Bo Bichette, the Toronto Blue Jays All-Star who’s expected to headline a thin shortstop market.
“After leading the AL in hits in 2021 and ’22 and making his second career All-Star team in ’23, Bichette had a nightmarish ’24… This season, Bichette looked like his old self, leading the league with 181 hits before a left knee sprain ended his regular season,” Feinsand wrote. “With a thin shortstop market, he’ll be in position to score big in free agency. Potential fits: Blue Jays, Braves, Tigers.”
Why Bichette Fits the Braves
Atlanta hasn’t had a true two-way shortstop since Dansby Swanson departed after the 2022 season. Since then, the Braves have struggled to find stability at the position, cycling through internal options without consistent production.
Bichette, 26, offers the kind of contact ability and steady defense that could immediately stabilize the infield. In 2025, before his injury, he hit .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and an .840 OPS across 139 games — elite numbers for a shortstop.
What It Could Cost Atlanta
According to reports, Bichette is projected to command an eight-year deal worth around $186 million, or roughly $23.3 million annually. His market could push closer to $200 million, especially with limited alternatives available.
Still, the Braves have payroll flexibility and a competitive window built around Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Matt Olson. Adding Bichette could solidify one of baseball’s best cores for the next decade.
Bottom Line
If Alex Anthopoulos is willing to spend aggressively, Bo Bichette might be the exact kind of addition that resets the Braves’ trajectory after a lost season.
