Uncertainty continues to swirl around Bo Bichette’s future, and the latest developments are only adding to the Toronto Blue Jays’ growing concerns.
As one of the most prominent names on the free-agent market, Bichette is now drawing serious interest from a division rival willing to make difficult roster decisions to secure his services.
According to a report published on January 8 by The Athletic’s Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal, the Philadelphia Phillies have scheduled a meeting with Bichette and are already preparing for the ripple effects that could follow a potential signing.
The report, citing multiple league sources, indicates that Philadelphia has mapped out contingency plans that reflect just how serious its interest has become.
Phillies prepare for major roster shake-up
The report outlines a striking possibility: if the Phillies successfully land Bo Bichette, the move could come at the expense of established stars.
Gelb and Rosenthal noted that Philadelphia would be willing to part ways with both J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm if necessary.
While the idea of pairing Bichette with Realmuto is considered unlikely, the willingness to consider such sweeping changes underscores how highly the Phillies value Bichette’s skill set.
For Toronto Blue Jays, that level of commitment from a rival organization adds pressure amid ongoing questions about their own long-term plans.
Former GM offers candid take on Bo Bichette’s fit
Former MLB general manager Jim Duquette weighed in on the situation during a January 9 appearance on MLB Network Radio via SiriusXM, offering a blunt but measured assessment of why Bichette makes sense for Philadelphia.
“I really think the fit would be fantastic, just in the sense of Bo adding a younger player to their roster, which they need,” Duquette said. “There are people in Philly that talk about the core, and they’re over the core. You can add a player or two without just trashing the core, like what the Mets have done. So there is an in-between, between keeping it the same and getting rid of four guys all at one swoop.”
Duquette also addressed the positional flexibility Bo Bichette could provide and how it could impact Philadelphia’s infield alignment.
“Maybe this would be a nice little addition. I think it would be a nice addition to play third,” Duquette said. “We talked about the fit in terms of like, ‘OK, well, can we start looking at places for Alec Bohm in that scenario?’ I think that you could move them to any of these teams that are trying to improve.”
Toronto left watching rival momentum
For Toronto Blue Jays, the developments are concerning. Bo Bichette has long been viewed as a cornerstone of Toronto’s roster, but rival teams are now openly positioning themselves to capitalize if he becomes available.
Philadelphia’s proactive approach only sharpens the spotlight on Toronto’s situation as speculation intensifies across the league.