The Toronto Blue Jays are already making moves that appear to anticipate the loss of two-time All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette to free agency, as the clubâs hope of re-signing the seven-year veteran are receding into the distance. Last offseason, they picked up three-time Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians, using him at shortstop in 15 games this year.
On Wednesday, the Blue Jays made another move to fill the shortstop position, and while this one comes with considerably less fanfare, the player they acquired has been described as having âimmense power potentialâ and already has one historic home run-hitting feat on his résumé.
Toronto Already Burdened With Big Contracts
While Toronto clearly still has hopes that it will entice Bichette to return, the Blue Jays now have six contracts valued at $100 million or more on their books, with the signings of Vladimir Guerrero to a $500 million, 14-year extension, and a seven-year, $210 million deal for free agent pitcher Dylan Cease topping the list.
Projections for what Bichette will command on the free-agent market vary widely, with estimates ranging as high as $208 million over eight years, but the near-unanimous view is that he will obtain a nine-figure deal. Whether the defending American League champion Blue Jays are willing to take on a seventh $100 million-plus contract remains an open question.
At the moment, at least, Bichette appears to be headed elsewhere â the Detroit Tigers are one landing spot that has been often mentioned â but Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro is apparently taking no chances.
Blue Jays Sign Phillies Castoff
With the Bichette situation most likely in mind, the Blue Jays on Wednesday, according to the MiLB.com transactions page, signed 26-year-old Rodolfo Castro â a 2023 Philadelphia Phillies trade-deadline acquisition who didnât work out, spending most of his time with that organization at Triple-A playing for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
The switch-hitter from Los Llanos, Dominican Republic, spent all of this season with the IronPigs, belting 19 home runs and 26 doubles, though he ended up with only a .745 OPS.
In 566 major-league at-bats, Castro has 22 home runs, but an OPS of just .672.
Castro is currently playing for Estrellas Orientales of the Dominican Winter League, where he has already belted five home runs in just 55 at-bats.
His minor-league contract comes with an invitation to the Blue Jaysâ spring training as a non-roster player, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Power Was Always Castroâs Selling Point
Castro was not a highly touted prospect, signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international amateur free agent for a modest bonus of $150,000. But according to Bryce Naughton of the Pirates site Rum Bunter, Castroâs âimmense power potentialâ was always seen as his main feature.
âCastroâs MLB career commenced with a historic feat,â Naughton recounted. âHis first five hits were all home runs, setting a Pirates record and making him the first player in the modern era since 1900 to achieve such a remarkable start.â
Unfortunately, the slugging shortstop found it all downhill from there, and is now going for a second chance at catching on at the MLB level with the Blue Jays.
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