The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason could take a dramatic turn if their interest in Bo Bichette turns into them signing him, with reports indicating on Thursday that the Phillies plan to have a video meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays free agent.
According to Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Phillies’ pursuit of Bichette is real, and it could have an impact on multiple other players on the roster.
“Bichette is expected to meet with Phillies officials on a video conference call in the coming days, those sources said. The club’s interest in Bichette is legitimate, and if it results in a deal, it would likely require the team to move on from roster mainstays J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm,” they wrote.
That last part is what makes this situation a lot different from what we initially thought. Bichette would immediately upgrade the infield offensively and give the Phillies another big-time bat capable of changing the lineup, but adding a player of his caliber and likely his salary would perhaps make Philadelphia make a tough decision elsewhere.
One of those decisions could involve Alec Bohm.
Bohm has been a steady presence at third base and is a decent player, but his recent play, mainly offensively as a third baseman, has made him replaceable, and we’ve known that for about a year now.
The report also notes that J.T. Realmuto is another player who could be gone, though he’s a free agent.
While Realmuto is still one of the better catchers in baseball, the Phillies might not have much of a chance to spend a lot more.
This would be about maximizing a championship window, but it also begs the question of if the Phillies are willing to sign Bichette, why not just bring Realmuto back?
Nothing is guaranteed, and the meeting alone doesn’t mean something will happen, but the fact that Philadelphia is open to doing this could lead to a move that many have wanted them to make with Bichette.
Maybe there will be more to finalize, but the offense would look a lot different than it has in recent years.