NEW YORK — The Blue Jays just added Kazuma Okamoto to an infield that already includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That does not mean Bo Bichette is heading to the Bronx. In fact, Toronto can still bring back its homegrown star. And the Yankees’ sudden interest in Bichette smells a lot like damage control.
The timing is too convenient. The rumor surfaces right as fan frustration reaches a boiling point. New York has done almost nothing this winter while the team that eliminated them in October keeps getting stronger.
Okamoto does not block Bichette in Toronto
Okamoto signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Blue Jays on Saturday. The 29-year-old projects to play third base in Toronto. He also has experience at first base and in the outfield. That versatility gives the Blue Jays options.
There is still the possibility that Toronto re-signs Bichette to add to their already impressive infield. Andres Gimenez could move from second base to shortstop if Bichette does not return. Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider could share time at second. But the Blue Jays want Bichette back. They have made that clear.
Toronto’s aggressive approach stands in stark contrast to the cautious strategy in the Bronx. The reigning AL Champions are also seen as a favorite to land All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Their spending spree has not stopped. The Okamoto signing does not change their pursuit of Bichette one bit. They look determined to invest in roster upgrade and may keep their shortstop too.
The Yankees’ Bichette interest raises questions
While there is a lot to like about Bichette, a natural shortstop and a career .294 hitter who could bring much-needed contact skills to the Yankees lineup, it feels like something of an odd fit. Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 139 games during the 2025 season. His 134 wRC+ placed him among the top 20 hitters in baseball.
But Bichette is a sieve defensively. He posted minus-12 defensive runs saved and minus-13 outs above average in 2025. That has led to the 27-year-old all but admitting he needs to move to second base.
The Yankees already have a very good second baseman in Jazz Chisholm Jr. While there have been some trade whispers around him, it would be a complicated dance to sign Bichette and then trade their incumbent to rebalance the rest of the roster elsewhere.
The suspicious timing cannot be ignored
The timing of this rumor is strange. It came out shortly after we learned that the club did not make a play for Japanese star Tatsuya Imai. The Yankees willingly watched Imai land with the Houston Astros on a three-year, $54 million deal. That was roughly a third of the $150 million-plus many experts predicted he would command.
The Yankees did not even try to beat that offer. When a potential target like Imai signs for $54 million and the Yankees did not make a play, it sends a message to the fans that they have no interest in trying.
The pinstripe faithful are not known to be an overly patient or forgiving bunch. Perhaps the Yankees realized that and drummed up this out-of-left-field interest in Bichette in order to turn down the heat.
Toronto keeps building while New York stands still
Although the Yankees were not reportedly in on Okamoto, his signing with Toronto means another hurdle for New York to overcome. The Blue Jays have made a number of moves to strengthen their team this winter. They signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal to lead their rotation. They added reliever Tyler Rogers on a three-year, $37 million contract.
Okamoto is a six-time NPB All-Star. He batted .277 with 248 home runs and 717 RBI in 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He hit .327 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI in 69 games last season. He homered off Kyle Freeland in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final to help Japan beat the United States 3-2.
Fan frustration boils over on social media
The reaction from Yankees fans was swift and harsh after the Okamoto news broke.
“Blue Jays got better this offseason with more time to improve further and the Yankees Plan A is to run it back. Bring me the lockout,” one fan posted on social media.
Another wrote: “My day to day interest in the Yankees is at an all time low in my 30 years as a fan.”
The Yankees and Blue Jays finished with the same record of 94-68 in 2025. New York went 5-8 against Toronto in the regular season. That head-to-head record determined the AL East winner. The two teams met in the ALDS. The Blue Jays won in four games.
The spending gap keeps widening
As for the Yankees, their priority is bringing back Cody Bellinger to help run it back in 2026. Their only external addition this deep into the offseason is Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest. Every other move brought back players already in the organization.
The Yankees have spent just over $29 million in free agency. That total is less than the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. Of that amount, $22 million came from Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer.
Toronto’s estimated payroll for 2026 sits around $286 million. They are over the highest luxury tax threshold and clearly do not care. The Blue Jays came within two outs of winning their first World Series title since 1993 last fall. Now they are loading up for another run. The Yankees are watching it happen.
Bichette is a fantastic player. But there is no guarantee he is coming to the Bronx. Toronto still wants him. And the Yankees’ sudden interest feels more like a smoke screen than a real pursuit.
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