The New York Yankees are hunting big names in free agency this offseason, but to this point, they have largely come up short. The good news is that several star players are still up for grabs, but the Yanks are going to be competing with a handful of teams when it comes to their quest to bring those guys to town.
For much of the offseason, New York has been linked to a reunion with star outfielder Cody Bellinger, but no deal has materialized to this point. With their pursuit of Bellinger hitting a wall, the front office appears to be pivoting, and that could lead them to another All-Star caliber talent in Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette.
Yankees Turning Attention to Bo Bichette in Free Agency
After losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets last offseason, the Yankees brought Bellinger to town, pairing him up with Aaron Judge in the outfield. Bellinger enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign with the Yankees, hitting .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs, which positioned him to earn a big-money deal in free agency.
Both New York and Bellinger are open to a reunion, but to this point, a deal has yet to materialize. That has forced the Yankees’ front office to consider alternative options, with Bichette being one of the top bats left on the open market. In 2025, Bichette enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Blue Jays, as he hit .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, helping his team make a run all the way to the World Series.
After enduring a slow start to his free agency, Bichette’s market appears to be heating up, as several teams are joining the race for his signature. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, that includes the Yankees, who are taking a closer look at Bichette now that their pursuit of Bellinger has stalled.
“The Yankees and No. 1 target Cody Bellinger have exchanged multiple proposals but haven’t closed the gap quite enough to shut off other possibilities — either for Bellinger or the Yankees, who are now looking more seriously at superstar infielder Bo Bichette,” Heyman reported.
Should the Yankees Sign Bo Bichette?
GettyTORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 24: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs to the dugout during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on October 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
New York needs another big bat to complement Judge in their lineup, and Bichette could be that guy. While he’s more of a contact hitter than a power hitter, Bichette is capable of hitting 20-25 home runs a season, and the friendly dimensions of Yankee Stadium could benefit him in the 2026 campaign and beyond.
Given his familiarity with the team, re-signing Bellinger would probably be New York’s preference, but if that isn’t on the table, the team needs to have some fallback options. Bichette is about as good a target the Yanks could have if they strike out on Bellinger, but with several teams also looking to bring him to town, they could quickly find themselves in a bidding war for the two-time All-Star.
MLB Insider Reveals Update on Yankees’ Bo Bichette Interest Amid Cody Bellinger Rumors