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Rob Longley may need to work hard through the day to address any Bichette absence via trade
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Published Jul 31, 2023 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 3 minute read
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) is helped off the field by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) and first base coach Mark Budzinski (53) after taking an injury during fourth inning American League MLB baseball action against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on Monday, July 31, 2023. Photo by Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS
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As Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette pulled up in clear and painful anguish as he rounded first base on Monday night, it was difficult not to at least consider the worst-case scenario.
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When Bichette, a driven athlete well in tune with his body, immediately grabbed for his right knee, the feeling grew even more dire for those around the Blue Jays.
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And now the team — which rather carefully termed the injury as “right knee discomfort” — must wait to determine the injury’s severity and the potential consequences associated with it. There are plenty of moving parts attached to a lengthy absence of Bichette and high among them would be how general manager Ross Atkins approaches Tuesday’s 6 p.m. MLB trade deadline. If the team knows its star infielder — and by far its best and most consistent hitter — is out for a sustained period, Atkins will need to work hard through the day to address Bichette’s absence via trade.
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3 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Understandably, given the looming deadline, the Jays were vague in their initial prognosis for Bichette, though it was clear there was concern in the clubhouse following the team’s 4-2 loss to the first-place Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre in Toronto. “(We’re) still gathering information to see what we are going to do next,” manager John Schneider said after yet another two-hit night for Bichette. “In terms of what’s going forward, we’re still figuring that out right now.” More information will be available on Bichette’s status when the team arrives at the Rogers Centre prior to Tuesday’s game against the Orioles. The fact that Bichette walked off the field under his own power could be viewed as noteworthy, although athletes suffering even serious knee injuries often do so.
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Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette hits a single during the first inning against Baltimore the Orioles on Monday, July 31. Photo by NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
The fact that he left the game as quickly as he did certainly spoke to the pain Bichette was experiencing as he is notably a player determined not to miss any time during baseball’s long, 162-game season. “He said he kind of jammed it a little bit as he was trying to stop,” said manager John Schneider, who joined the Jays training staff in a rush to the field immediately after the injury occurred. “With a guy like him, you want to be extremely proactive, obviously.” With two out and his team trailing at the time, Bichette was looking to make something happen by stretching a single into a double. Though there was no apparent bad step he stopped in obvious pain. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Play Video It was also clear by Bichette’s reaction that there was some fear in the moment as to the extent of the injury. Athletes know the difference between a tweak and something more serious.
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Though his teammates aren’t going to reveal any information they know about the injury, it was evident by post-game reaction on Monday that the consequences of a Bichette absence are front of mind. “He’s our best player,” Monday’s Jays starter Chris Bassitt said of Bichette, who leads the Jays with a .321 batting average and tops the American League with 144 hits. ‘Obviously we’re waiting (to find out his status) a lot more than you guys are. You have to have the next man up mentality. Overall, it’s not a good thing for us.” The reaction in the dugout and throughout the crowd of 32,000-plus at the Rogers Centre immediately signalled the potential significance of a Bichette absence. If an extended trip to the injured list — or worse — is the result of the injury, it will not only be a huge blow for the team but trigger an urgency to what already will be an extremely busy day for Atkins and the Jays front office. New reliever Jordan Hicks ready to bring heat to Blue Jays playoff push SIMMONS: Are Romano and Hicks the new Henke and Ward for Blue Jays? Presumably the club will have an idea of how dire the Bichette situation is, but even if the injury is milder than feared there may be a push to acquire some just-in-case backup. There are certainly some big name infielders believed to be on the trade market, including Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox and shortstop Paul Dejong of the St. Louis Cardinals, a team the Jays just dealt with in acquiring reliever Jordan Hicks on Sunday. rlongley@postmedia.com
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