{"id":518492,"date":"2026-01-13T17:17:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/518492\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:17:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:17:15","slug":"updates-on-phillies-meeting-with-bo-bichette-phillies-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/518492\/","title":{"rendered":"Updates on Phillies meeting with Bo Bichette \u2013 Phillies Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Phillies reportedly have interest in Bo Bichette.(Photo by Mathew Tsang\/Icon Sportswire)<\/p>\n

Keep track of all the latest offseason rumors pertaining to the Phillies on\u00a0Phillies Nation.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, Jan. 13: Updates on Phillies meeting with Bo Bichette<\/p>\n

The Phillies met with free agent infielder Bo Bichette in a Zoom meeting on\u00a0Monday. The meeting went \u201cvery well,\u201d according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post<\/a>. Per The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb<\/a>, \u201cboth parties emerged with optimism.\u201d <\/p>\n

Who else could be involved in the Bichette market? The Boston Red Sox came up short in their quest to retain Alex Bregman. Desperation could lead to Boston coming in with the highest offer, but the Red Sox aren\u2019t known as a team that\u2019s willing to extend themselves for a top free agent. The Los Angeles Dodgers are always willing to jump in. The New York Yankees want Cody Bellinger back, but they\u2019re also looking at Bichette. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 9: The latest on\u00a0 Bo Bichette, J.T. Realmuto and Alex Bregman<\/p>\n

Various reports have come out about the Phillies\u2019 standing in the market for position players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The big news is that the Phillies are meeting with free agent infielder Bo Bichette on Monday via Zoom, according to the New York Post\u2019s Jon Heyman<\/a>. Bichette, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today<\/a>, expressed interest in playing for the Phillies shortly after the holidays. Two high-ranking Phillies executives cautioned Nightengale that signing Bichette is \u201ca long shot\u201d and insisted that \u201cit would be complicated and involve significant roster changes, but that it\u2019s certainly possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Signing Bichette would likely spell the end of J.T. Realmuto\u2019s time with the Phillies. The Phillies, per the Inquirer\u2019s Scott Lauber<\/a>, \u201cremain focused on bringing back Realmuto.\u201d Heyman also wrote on Thursday <\/a>that a three-year deal with Realmuto \u201cstill seems doable \u2013 eventually.\u201d\u00a0
Finally, MLB.com\u2019s Todd Zolecki<\/a> reported that the Phillies \u201caren\u2019t pursuing (Alex) Bregman, as they are Bichette.\u201d Zolecki also added that the Phillies haven\u2019t given Realmuto a deadline to sign. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Thursday, Jan. 8: Phillies set to meet with Bo Bichette<\/p>\n

With J.T. Realmuto remaining a free agent, the Phillies are mulling their options and are reportedly set to meet with free agent infielder Bo Bichette. The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal<\/a> are reporting that Philadelphia and Bichette will meet via video \u201cin the coming days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Phillies\u2019 interest in Bichette is \u201clegitimate\u201d, according to Gelb and Rosenthal, and if the club eventually signs the 27-year-old, it would \u201clikely require the (Phillies) to move on from roster mainstays J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm.\u201d Moving on from Realmuto and Bohm would be necessary if the Phillies landed Bichette to keep them from going well above what they spent on last year\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

Bichette has mainly been a shortstop during his major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He\u2019d move to second base or third base with the Phillies; Bryson Stott would play whichever position Bichette doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Bichette would be a strong addition to the Phillies lineup. In 748 career games, Bichette, a right-handed hitter, has a .294 batting average and .806 OPS. \u2014 Bailey Digh<\/p>\n

Tuesday, Jan. 6: Phillies backup options if J.T. Realmuto signs elsewhere<\/p>\n

The Phillies are still waiting on an answer from J.T. Realmuto. The two sides have discussed \u201cvarious multi-year scenarios,\u201d according to The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb<\/a>. Realmuto is holding out for a higher offer. The veteran catcher returning to Philadelphia is still the most likely scenario.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But what if Realmuto gets a higher offer elsewhere? The Phillies have some backup plans in mind. Gelb mentioned Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers as a possible trade candidate. The right-handed hitting Jeffers batted .266 with a .752 OPS in 119 games with Minnesota in 2025. Jeffers is estimated to make $6.5 million in his final year of arbitration in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even though the Phillies acquired Realmuto from the Miami Marlins via trade in early February of 2019, it\u2019s typically harder to pull off catcher trades late in the offseason. Victor Caratini was also mentioned as a possible free agent alternative. Caratini spent the last two seasons with the Houston Astros. He profiles more as one part of a potential catching tandem with Rafael Marchan.\u00a0 \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Saturday, Jan. 3: Heyman: Phillies interested in Bo Bichette <\/p>\n

Jon Heyman of the New York Post<\/a> recently linked the Phillies to free agent shortstop Bo Bichette. Heyman also mentioned the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and his original team the Blue Jays as teams with \u201cinterest.\u201d The right-handed hitting Bichette bounced back in 2025 after a below replacement-level season in 2024, batting .311 with an .840 OPS in 139 games. Bichette missed most of the Blue Jays\u2019 playoff run with a left knee sprain, but was able to return for the World Series. Bichette hit a three-run home run in the third inning of Toronto\u2019s Game 7 loss to the Dodgers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Among the many big name free agent position players remaining on the market, Bichette may be the most intriguing fit for the Phillies. He is a young free agent at 27. The Phillies have a starting shortstop in Trea Turner and another for the future in Aidan Miller. Bichette could play second or third base. Signing Bichette would likely necessitate a trade of either Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bichette rejected a qualifying offer earlier this offseason, meaning the Phillies would have to give up their second and fifth-highest draft selections along with $500,000 in international bonus pool money to sign Bichette. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Thursday, Jan. 1: Astros to sign Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai<\/p>\n

Right-hander Tatsuya Imai has agreed to join the Houston Astros after being posted from his native Japan, according to the New York Post\u2018s Jon Heyman<\/a>. The starting pitcher will sign a three-year deal that could earn him as much as $63 million, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic<\/a>, and will have the ability to opt out after each of the first two seasons of his contract.<\/p>\n

Imai, 27, had a 1.92 ERA in 24 starts for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2025, making him one of the most attractive Japanese players of the offseason and a top free agent overall. The Phillies were named a potential \u201cleading candidate\u201d for Imai by MLB Nework\u2018s David Vassegh<\/a> near the beginning of the winter and some other rumors swirled later on, but Philadelphia was ultimately not the destination. The Phillies have yet to sign a player to a major-league deal directly from Japan in their franchise history. \u2014 Ty Daubert<\/p>\n

Friday, Dec. 19: The latest on J.T. Realmuto\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Phillies aren\u2019t\u00a0pivoting away from J.T. Realmuto as their main catching target, though it sounds like they are at least thinking about other solutions. It\u2019s all taking a little bit longer than the Phillies have hoped. The catcher and the team are \u201clocked in a standoff,\u201d per The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb<\/a>. A reunion between the two is \u201cstill the expectation,\u201d but the Phillies have also \u201cpursued trade alternatives,\u201d per Gelb.<\/p>\n

Catcher is the main priority for the Phillies after adding Adolis Garcia to the outfield and making a pair of bullpen trades to go with the signing of Brad Keller to a two-year contract. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Thursday, Dec. 18: Matt Strahm trade buzz continues<\/p>\n

The Matt Strahm trade buzz has continued this offseason. Before the Phillies made their signing of right-hander Brad Keller official on Thursday evening, a report from ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan<\/a> dropped in the morning indicating that the Phillies are \u201clikely\u201d to trade Strahm.<\/p>\n

The left-hander has been one of Philadelphia\u2019s top high-leverage options out of the bullpen since joining the team in 2023, and he had a 2.74 ERA in 66 appearances this season. Strahm has had some postseason hiccups, but he\u2019s largely been a productive reliever capable of pitching in a variety of roles.<\/p>\n

If the Phillies do indeed trade Strahm, it could be a move to save money, as he\u2019s due $7.5 million. The club has two other lefties, Jos\u00e9 Alvarado and Tanner Banks, in its bullpen, and Strahm could get the Phillies some value. A Strahm trade could allow Philadelphia to address other needs on the roster, but a deal without redirecting the savings for 2026 could be a misuse of resources, since Strahm is still effective. \u2014 Ty Daubert<\/p>\n

Monday, Dec. 15: Phillies reportedly still interested in Harrison Bader after Adolis Garcia signing<\/p>\n

The Phillies may not be done reshaping the outfield, but it may take some payroll maneuvering. After signing former Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million contract, the Phillies \u201chave remained interested\u201d in re-signing center fielder Harrison Bader, per The Athletic\u2019s Matt Gelb<\/a>. Bader is seeking a three-year deal worth between $10-$15 million per season, per a previous report from Ken Rosenthal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Could the Phillies clear payroll space for a potential Bader reunion? They are not going to find any takers for Nick Castellanos and his $20 million salary, especially with Garcia now on the roster. The Phillies have no leverage and few are pouncing on the opportunity to acquire Castellanos after a down year. As Gelb mentions, an Alec Bohm trade could give the Phillies some payroll relief. Bohm is projected to make just over $10 million in his final year of arbitration, per MLB Trade Rumors. \u2013 Destiny Lugardo<\/p>\n

Monday, Dec. 15: Renewed interest in a familiar trade target?<\/p>\n

The Phillies visiting Rate Field in the few days before the 2025 trade deadline only added fuel to the idea<\/a> that Luis Robert Jr. could find himself in red pinstripes by the end of the week. Robert Jr. stayed put, but the concept might pick up steam again this winter.<\/p>\n

The Phillies have renewed interest in Robert Jr., according to a report from The Athletic\u2018s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon<\/a>. Sharing in that interest is an NL East rival which did so back in July, too: the Mets.<\/p>\n

A trade might not be as inspiring now as it would\u2019ve been at the deadline. Robert Jr. had a torrid July before cooling off in August, straining his left hamstring later in the month and missing the remainder of the season. He also earned a $5 million raise this offseason after the club picked up his $20 million option, likely in an effort to trade him for something either now or mid-season. <\/p>\n

That price tag is a huge one given his peaks and valleys, with considerably more valleys, offensively over the last few years. But Rosenthal and Sammon report that Chicago would consider paying down a good portion of his salary to sweeten the return.<\/p>\n

Given the paucity of quality right-handed hitting outfielders on the free-agent market, there\u2019s an opportunity for Chicago to exploit. It feels unlikely the Phillies would part with an upper-tier prospect for a player as inconsistent (and frequently injured) as Robert Jr. But with rumors that the Phillies could seek to trade a big-leaguer like Alec Bohm or Matt Strahm in an effort to free up payroll, perhaps there\u2019s a chance the Phillies could redirect those funds into a dart throw on Robert Jr. and use cash to offset prospect cost.<\/p>\n

The good version of Robert Jr. would fill a hole for the Phillies as their everyday center fielder or, less likely, a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh. Robert Jr.\u2019s OPSes against lefties the last three seasons, in reverse chronological order, are .842, .568 and .952. Unpredictable? Yes. Enticing? Evidently, at least a little bit. \u2013 Nathan Ackerman<\/p>\n

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