The Philadelphia Phillies have some work to do this offseason to improve their roster. Reinforcements could soon be on the way.
The Phillies are reportedly in on former Toronto Blue Jays free agent Bo Bichette, who recently had a meeting with the team.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the meeting reportedly went “very well”.
Other reported teams in on Bichette are the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and incumbent Blue Jays.
Entering his age-28 season, Bichette is young with an impressive resume. In seven seasons with Toronto, he has had four seasons hitting above .300. He has also played in two All-Star Games since he made his debut.
What Should the Philadelphia Phillies Do to Make it Work?
If the Phillies can sign Bichette, it would create organizational salary issues. According to Spotrac, Bichette would merit an eight-year contract worth $186.4 million, on an average annual value of $23.3 million.
That’s a hefty salary for a team that is already paying more than that for Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner and Aaron Nola, per Spotrac.
Heyman suggested that the Phillies might need to trade infielder Alec Bohm and not bring back free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Heyman added that it wouldn’t necessarily be for an upgrade at the catcher position. Rather, he suggested Philadelphia could make a move for a lesser, cheaper version of Realmuto.
Losing Realmuto would be huge for a couple of reasons. One being that he works very well with the pitching staff and is still one of the better catchers in all of baseball. While his offensive production has taken a hit in recent seasons, he still defends the position at an elite level, per Baseball Savant.
As for Bohm, he would serve little purpose on the roster if they manage to sign Bichette, with Bryson Stott, Turner, Harper and Bichette in the infield.
It’s up for debate how much he would fetch in a trade. However, his bat is much better than his glove.
What Does Bichette Like About Philadelphia?
One of the advantages Philadelphia has over other teams that are in on Bichette is the roster, per Heyman. With a strong roster that won 96 games, most players should already view Philadelphia as a great destination.
Citizens Bank Park, being considered a hitter-friendly environment, doesn’t hurt one bit either. In addition, Don Mattingly, a part of the Blue Jays’ coaching staff from 2023-25, is now a part of Philadelphia’s coaching staff. That strong connection in Toronto would help Bichette acclimate to the Phillies.
Proximity to home has been an issue for many free agents, including some that Philadelphia has signed in the past. With the team being on the East Coast, Bichette is close to his hometown of Orlando, Florida.
The interest Bichette has in Philadelphia is not to be understated. If the Phillies can nab the young free agent, that would be paramount to the success of the team in the short-term and long-term.
With Harper, Schwarber, Wheeler and others on the roster entering the later stages of their career soon, this could help the Phillies contend for the next decade.
Phillies Top Target’s Meeting Went ‘Very Well’: Report