Mariners could make massive trade after recent Blue Jays rumors

It has been a rough stretch of years for Blue Jays fans. After making it to the ALCS in back-to-back seasons, they haven't won a single playoff game since their 2016 run. This eight-year span of postseason disappointment has been marred by unlucky collisions, suspect manager calls, and missed free agent opportunities. Sound familiar, Seattle Mariners fans?

After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. declined a massive extension offer from the team, it seems that the organization will soon lose their best player and kick off a potential rebuild. Vladdy is the most noteworthy player on the roster but there are other parts of what was meant to be the team's future core that could be up for sale.

The Blue Jays were initially opposed to entertaining any offers concerning Bo Bichette, with general manager Ross Atkins going so far as to call them "easy nos" in November. However, after missing out on signing Juan Soto, they seemed to have changed their tune.

A look at his 2024 numbers might lead one to forget just how good Bichette has been over the rest of his major-league career. Since debuting in 2019, he has accumulated 17.5 rWAR and has averaged a 119 OPS+ as a shortstop. Last season seemed to be a statistic anomaly where Bichette failed to meet the expectations of a replacement-level player, much less those of a two-time All-Star and three-time down-ballot MVP candidate.

Mariners Rumors: Could a Bo Bichette trade be on the table for Seattle?

A healthy, full-power Bichette would be a great addition to the lineup. Despite Seattle already having a shortstop in JP Crawford, he could easily slide over to second base or take over in the event of another Crawford injury. This would be the most ideal blue-sky scenario, but as with all things in life, it's never that simple.

First, Toronto has indicated they are willing to deal Bichette, but only in exchange for a hefty return. The team's offseason focuses will be acquiring relievers and bolstering their lineup. They've already made a big move to accomplish the former, but it takes more than one arm to make a bullpen. Thus, they'd likely request a bumper crop of some of the top arm talent from the Mariners in return, like Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, and Gregory Santos, especially because Seattle's own lineup has so little to offer.

Second, it's hard to say which Bichette will take the field in 2025. Will his next season be characterized by the high batting average and solid power we've seen at the plate from 2019-2023 ... or will he be a shadow of his former self like 2024? He dealt with injuries that inhibited his production but it's difficult to ascertain whether he has fully put those obstacles behind him.

Bichette is just one of the infield possibilities for the Mariners to seriously consider as Opening Day approaches. Given the asking price and uncertainty, it may not be as alluring as other options, but if the front office does make a deal with their neighbor in the North, the middle infield picture in Seattle has the potential to be the best it has ever been.