Report: Bichette eyeing $300M deal in free agency
Bo Bichette has a big number in mind for his next contract.
The free-agent shortstop is believed to be looking for a deal around $300 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The Philadelphia Phillies have scheduled a video meeting with Bichette in the coming days, sources told Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The club's front office has reportedly done extensive background work on how signing the two-time All-Star would impact its roster.
The Phillies are now the favorites to sign Bichette, reports Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, who adds that new bench coach Don Mattingly is one of the primary reasons. The duo was previously together in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Bichette, who's reportedly open to moving to second base, could work for the Phillies if the team moves Bryson Stott to third base and trades Alec Bohm, notes Gelb.
The New York Yankees are also showing more serious interest in the 27-year-old Bichette as contract talks with Cody Bellinger remain at an impasse, according to Heyman.
The Yankees have reportedly made several offers to Bellinger. However, negotiations have stalled over contract length and the average annual value, per SNY.
Bellinger is seeking a deal around six or seven years, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
The 30-year-old outfielder is drawing interest from several other clubs, including the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, adds Heyman.
Bichette's fit with the Yankees isn't clear on paper. The team already has Anthony Volpe at short, but the 24-year-old former top prospect will start the 2026 season sidelined after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. Offensively, Bichette would be a major upgrade over Volpe.
The Yankees have Jazz Chisholm Jr. manning second base, but the All-Star's name has surfaced in trade rumors this offseason.
The Cubs, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Boston Red Sox have also been linked to Bichette this winter.
Bichette went deep 18 times with a career-high 44 doubles, 94 RBIs, and an .840 OPS over 139 games for the Blue Jays in 2025.