Bo Bichette Is Hurt: What Should The Blue Jays Do?

Bo Bichette left Monday's game with a knee injury. Here's how the Jays can pivot if he misses time.

© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

This was the last thing the Blue Jays needed.

Bo Bichette, far and away the club's best player this year, injured himself during the third inning of Monday's game while running the bases. 

After slicing a ball down the right-field line, Bichette pulled up halfway between first and second base, frozen in pain. Unwilling to keep running, Bichette allowed Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo to tag him out to end the inning. 

Toronto later announced Bichette exited with right knee discomfort.

The 25-year-old stayed on his feet the whole time and eventually walked off the field with the help of team trainers. Bichette did not return to play defense in the top half of the fourth. 

The situation certainly didn't look good. So if Bichette misses time, what should the Blue Jays do? Let's examine the options.

Make a trade

With the Aug. 1 trade deadline fast approaching, Toronto has just under 24 hours to address the need, assuming Bichette's injury is serious enough to warrant backup.

SS Tim Anderson

Anderson would be an ideal fill-in. The 30-year-old has been awful — just truly awful — at the plate this season, but he has an entire career that suggests he's better than his current .578 OPS. 

The White Sox have been doomed this season, and there's reason to believe Anderson would benefit from a one-way ticket out of the South Side. 

Anderson owns a career .864 OPS against left-handers, meaning he'd have value for the Jays with or without Bichette.

SS Paul DeJong

Like Anderson, DeJong has a strong track record versus southpaws, The Cardinals infielder is also a supreme defender, which would immediately boost Toronto's sturdiness up the middle.

St. Louis is in sell mode, and the Blue Jays and Cardinals have already struck two deals this trade season. Perhaps Jays general manager Ross Atkins will make one more desperate phone call to Cardinals front office boss John Mozeliak. If Bichette is down, Toronto needs this. 

Call up a prospect

Triple-A Buffalo features few viable options.

INF Addison Barger

If the Blue Jays want some cowboy energy, Barger is the man. The 23-year-old's wild-hacking approach at the dish is slowly generating results at Triple-A as he's slashing .235/.350/.422 since returning from injury June 21. 

The fit at shortstop, however, is questionable. Barger can do it, but he's better off at third base. Matt Chapman owns the hot corner, so there'd need to be some mixing and matching to get Barger's heavy-hitting left-handed bat into the lineup.

The timing isn't perfect for a Barger promotion, but Bichette's potential absence could force Toronto's hand.

INF Otto Lopez

It's depressing to envision a situation where Lopez is relied on for significant reps at short, but it's not an impossibility. The 24-year-old can play the position (he handled himself well at the WBC) and has experience on the major-league roster.

Lopez's .637 OPS in Triple-A this year is a good indication of the upside he offers at this point. Toronto wouldn't let Lopez run with the gig — Espinal is clearly an upgrade — but he could factor into the situation.