Bo Bichette to Philly? Making a case to sign the former All-Star originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Right-handed hitting could remain a clear priority for the Phillies, even as the calendar turns to January.
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On Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Phillies have an interest in infielder Bo Bichette, adding them to a growing list of teams linked to the 27-year-old free agent.
The appeal is straightforward. Bichette hits right-handed, brings lineup balance and, importantly, has shown a willingness to move off shortstop — a flexibility that could make a fit in Philadelphia possible.
Bichette’s market is not a simple one. Productive position players under 30 rarely linger in free agency, but injuries and defensive questions over the past two seasons have complicated his value, even as his career offensive numbers remain strong.
A familiar profile
Bichette’s offensive resumé closely mirrors that of Trea Turner, one of Dave Dombrowski’s largest free-agent commitments in his time with Philadelphia.
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Across four full seasons (minimum 120 games) prior to free agency, Turner had hit .298/.353/.476 (.829 OPS). Under the same criteria, Bichette posted a nearly identical .301/.343/.478 line (.821 OPS). Over that span, the two were separated by just 12 hits and 13 at-bats.
Both led the league in hits twice and earned two All-Star selections before hitting the open market.
Turner ultimately commanded an 11-year, $300 million deal before the 2023 season, driven largely by his speed. Bichette does not offer that same element, and his defense is a significant question mark.
In 2025, Bichette recorded minus-13 Outs Above Average at shortstop, placing him in the lowest percentile league-wide, according to Statcast. Turner also struggled defensively in his career, but is coming off a phenomenal year with the glove. For Bichette, a move off shortstop would be a guarantee in any agreement.
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Making room for Bo
Until this postseason, Bichette had played exclusively at shortstop, logging 6,184 career innings at the position. A left knee sprain sidelined him late in September, but he returned for the World Series and made a smooth transition to second base, committing no errors.
There is risk in projecting him at second or third long-term, but the bat could justify it.
If the Phillies explored moving an infielder, Alec Bohm stands out. The 29-year-old third baseman is set to reach free agency next offseason, and Bichette would represent an offensive upgrade with a similar contact-oriented approach.
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A Bryson Stott trade would be a different calculation. Stott remains under control through 2028 and has experience at shortstop, but moving him could help facilitate a deal for a catcher if the Phillies are unable to re-sign J.T. Realmuto.
From a lineup perspective, Turner and Bichette separating sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper is an easy fit on paper.
Beyond the peripherals
Bichette’s offensive profile is atypical, in a good way.
He sprays the ball to all fields. For his career, he has pulled 28.2 percent of batted balls, gone straightaway 37.1 percent of the time and used the opposite field on 34.7 percent — roughly nine points below league average in pull rate and more than nine points above average to the opposite field.
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Primarily a fastball hitter, Bichette was productive against all pitch types in 2025. He hit .308 against fastballs and posted a career-high .313 average with 67 hits against breaking pitches.
His most damage came against offspeed offerings, mostly changeups, where he hit .319 with 10 extra-base hits and a .609 slugging percentage, despite seeing the pitch just 10.4 percent of the time.
Bichette is also comfortable expanding the zone.
The Phillies ranked third in MLB last season in out-of-zone swing rate at 30.7 percent, while Bichette owns a career mark of 35.7 percent (per FanGraphs). While that approach carries risk, it has not hindered his production.
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In 2025, he posted an 18.4 percent swing-and-miss rate, ranking in the 83rd percentile, and has made contact on 89.3 percent of in-zone swings over his career.
It’s an aggressive profile, but one that has consistently worked.
What would it cost?
Projecting Bichette’s contract is tricky because of his positional uncertainty.
The situation draws parallels to Marcus Semien prior to the 2022 season. Semien had spent most of his career at shortstop before shifting primarily to second base in 2021, when he slugged 45 home runs for Toronto. Despite a crowded shortstop market that offseason, Semien still secured a seven-year, $175 million deal with Texas, effectively receiving shortstop-level money to play second base.
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This offseason features a thin free-agent infielder class. With limited supply, Bichette remains positioned to command a strong market, even this late into the winter.
A deal in the range of six years and $180 million is plausible, particularly if the Phillies structure it to manage luxury tax penalties in the front-half. That could require moving Bohm’s projected $10.25 million arbitration salary, similar to how the club handled Matt Strahm.
Such a move could also complicate a Realmuto reunion, pushing the Phillies toward younger, controllable catching options.
Whether Dombrowski is willing to reshuffle the roster to that degree remains an open question. But Bichette represents the type of offensive addition that could meaningfully change a lineup that has reached the postseason four straight years without a title.
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A connection worth noting
There is also a familiar thread.
“When you talk about calm, he’s about as calm as it gets,” Bichette told Sportsnet ahead of Game 6 of the World Series, referring to Don Mattingly, the Phillies’ expected next bench coach.
Bichette and Mattingly built a strong relationship in Toronto, one that was visible even after the Blue Jays’ Game 7 loss to Los Angeles. That connection alone would not drive a signing, but it is part of the backdrop.
For a Phillies team searching for lineup balance and another dependable right-handed bat, Bichette checks a lot of boxes — if they’re willing to make another splash.
