The meeting with Philadelphia reportedly went "very well."
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Toronto Blue Jays remain in the mix when it comes to free agent infielder Bo Bichette. However, Bichette's meeting on Monday with the Philadelphia Phillies is said to have gone "very well."
Per Heyman on social media:
Bichette/Phillies meeting is said to have gone very well fwiw. Bichette admires “first class” organization. Other pluses: roster, park, Mattinglys link, spring proximity to home. Would Phils need to deal Bohm, do lesser C than JT? Other Bo suitors: Jays, Red Sox, NYY, LAD, more
About the Phillies fit
To Heyman's point, the Phillies have a lot going for them. Firstly, they are one of the organizations primed to pay big money for players, and head executive Dave Dombrowski is notoriously aggressive when trying to build a championship roster. Secondly, the roster is in a window where it's ready to win with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Bryson Stott and Cristopher Sanchez. Thirdly, Citizens Bank Park is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league, and the team's spring training home in Clearwater, Fla. is close to where Bichette is from.
However, there are questions about just how long the Phillies window to win will last: Aaron Nola is aging, and regressed in 2025. There are questions about Zack Wheeler's health and how long he'll continue to play as well. Harper is aging, as is Nick Castellanos, and the team could lose both JT Realmuto and Ranger Suarez in free agency.
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About the Jays' pursuit
We've raised this question many times, but the pursuit has seemed off from the start. Bichette has said that he wants to be back, and the Blue Jays said in early Novemeber that they'd "be in his market." But if they really wanted him back, wouldn't it have been done by now?
Toronto has spent nearly $350 million guaranteed dollars on Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto, only to leave Bichette unclear of his standing with the organization.
Bringing Bichette back will cost the organization big time financially, but his fit on the roster is undeniable. He could play second base or shortstop, with Andres Gimenez occupying the other side. Ernie Clement could play third and Okamoto could be a super-utility player.
However, that would also force Addison Barger to right field, which would make it nearly impossible to pursue Kyle Tucker, something the Jays are also doing over the offseason.
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