Insider reignites rumors surrounding Tigers’ interest in resurgent Blue Jays slugger

The Detroit Tigers may have lost out on the Alex Bregman sweepstakes last offseason, but the saga is far from over. The veteran third baseman still has the opportunity to opt out of his deal with the Boston Red Sox after this season. If he does, he checks a lot of boxes for a Tigers team that still has a big question mark at third base.

This week, however, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic (subscription required) resurrected the rumors surrounding another pending free agent infielder who could be a fit for Detroit in the event that the Bregman bridge has been burned.

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette, who has previously been linked to the Tigers in numerous trade rumors, remains an option for Detroit as he prepares to hit the free agent market after this season. His defense is below average at shortstop, but he's a right-handed bat who has been one of the better hitters in baseball of late – which, unfortunately for the Tigers, will up his asking price in free agency.

Insider renews longstanding rumors about Tigers’ interest in resurgent Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette

Bichette has been on a tear at the plate, slashing. 368/.419/.576 with four home runs and 26 RBI in his last 30 games. On the season, the 27-year-old is hitting .294 with 16 home runs, 79 RBI and an .797 OPS (119 OPS+).

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Bichette's recent performance could earn him upwards of $200 million on his next contract. Though he is a less accomplished defender than other top-tier shortstops – like $140 million Tigers shortstop Javy Báez, for example – Bichette is hitting the market sooner, ahead of his age-28 season. If he sustains his current level of offensive production (or close to it), there's no reason to believe he wouldn't command that kind of money.

Unfortunately, the price tag may be what takes the Tigers out of the running for Bichette. For a team that is hesitant to spend – and for whom the Báez contract had been an overwhelming failure prior to this season – handing a that kind of money to Bichette may not be the most comfortable course of action. It's also worth considering that the Tigers will eventually have to pay Tarik Skubal, which makes an asset like Bichette feel even more like an afterthought.

Still, the Tigers would be wise to at least kick the tires on Bichette knowing that the Bregman boat has probably sailed.

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