Jun 29, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) returns to the dugout before playing the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports Kevin Sousa
Update Jan. 10, 11:26 p.m. ET: This story was written before Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year/$175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. It previously appeared like Bregman and the Red Sox needed each other, but obviously that wasn't the case for both sides. After losing Bregman, it stands to reason that the Red Sox might become serious players for Bichette.
Original Story
The Phillies — according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post — are going to meet with Bo Bichette Monday.
It's fair to say that Phillies fans desperate for some new energy on the team are already having visions of the two-time AL hits leader joining a lineup with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
Worth noting is that Bob Nightengale of USA Today said Thursday that he spoke to a pair of unnamed Phillies executives who "cautioned that signing Bichette remains a long-shot," but added that "it's certainly possible." Todd Zolecki wrote something similar Friday, saying "one source told MLB.com that Bichette is a realistic possibility, but probably a long shot."
But while it's clear the Phillies are trying to manage expectations, it's going to be very disappointing to fans if Bichette isn't in red pinstripes in 2026. Fair or unfair, that's how it is at this stage.
So what teams are the biggest threats to the Phillies for the two-time All-Star?
The incumbent Toronto Blue Jays aren't entirely out of things, but after signing Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year/$60 million contract, the infield seems set for the defending AL Champions. Okamoto will play third base, Vladimir Guerrero first base, Ernie Clement second base and Andrés Giménez at shortstop. Things can change, but the Blue Jays — the club that's employed Bichette for the first seven years of his career — might be more likely to pivot to someone like Kyle Tucker.
The AL East team that could be the one to watch going forward for Bichette is the New York Yankees.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported Saturday that the Yankees "are at an impasse" with Cody Bellinger, who isn't content to accept "a five-year deal for at least $30 million per season." One possible pivot from Bellinger, per Olney's reporting, is Bichette:
"The Yankees have remained engaged in the conversations for outfielder Kyle Tucker and infielder Bo Bichette, and as they have haggled in the Bellinger negotiations, they have also engaged other teams about trade possibilities."
It's not immediately clear where the Yankees would have Bichette play defensively. Shortstop Anthony Volpe is recovering from surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in October, which will likely prevent him from being ready for Opening Day. Volpe did struggle last year, but is expected to still return relatively early in 2026. Bichette has minus-19 defensive runs saved and minus-32 outs above average at shortstop in his career, so he feels more like a second baseman moving forward. The Yankees could trade Jazz Chisholm ahead of his contract year, but it is fair to wonder if that would be a good use of resources. Finding a way to make things work with Bellinger of Tucker might make more sense for the Yankees than adding Bichette.
The scariest alternative to the Phillies might actually be the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-time defending World Series Champions could offer Bichette — who will turn 28 in March — a deal like the three-year/$120 million contract with opt outs after each season that the Boston Red Sox gave Alex Bregman last offseason. Bichette could compete for a World Series in the short term, and set himself up to return to the open market still on the right side of 30 and without a qualifying offer attached to him.
As an organization, the Phillies don't include player opt-out clauses in contracts, so they probably wouldn't be a candidate to sign Bichette to that type of deal. The best bet for Dave Dombrowski and company would be to try to offer Bichette the long-term deal he seemed destined for at the outset of the offseason. On Bleacher Report, I projected a seven-year/$210 million deal for Bichette back in November. The Phillies could offer Bichette a pact in that range, or add extra years onto a contract — like they did with Trea Turner's 11-year/$300 million deal — to lower the annual luxury tax hit. That approach certainly comes with risk, though.
The bottom line, though, is that Phillies fans now expect Bichette to be on Rob Thomson's squad in 2026, likely as the second baseman. How far are managing partner John Middleton and Dombrowski willing to go to make that a reality?
