NEW YORK — The Cody Bellinger pursuit has dominated the Yankees’ winter. Multiple contract proposals have gone back and forth. Neither side has budged enough to close the deal.
That stalemate has forced the front office to consider alternatives. One name keeps surfacing in reports. He is a two-time All-Star with a career .294 batting average. He just helped a division rival reach the World Series.
Now another team has entered the picture. A meeting is scheduled. The Yankees are watching closely to see what happens next.
The Phillies have scheduled a meeting with Bichette
According to Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Phillies will meet with free agent infielder Bo Bichette via video conference. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports the meeting is scheduled for Monday.
“Bichette is expected to meet with Phillies officials on a video conference call in the coming days,” The Athletic reported. “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.”
The development surprised many. The Phillies had not been prominently linked to Bichette earlier this winter. Now they appear to be serious contenders.
The Yankees are taking a closer look
The Phillies are not alone in their interest. Heyman reports that the Yankees are “looking more seriously” at Bichette due to the gap in their negotiations with Bellinger.
“The Yankees and No. 1 target Cody Bellinger have exchanged multiple proposals but haven’t closed the gap quite enough to shut off other possibilities,” Heyman wrote.
The Yankees have reportedly offered Bellinger a multi-year deal worth more than $30 million annually. Bellinger’s camp continues to push for seven years.
That divide has opened the door for other options. The Cubs, Dodgers, and Red Sox have also been linked to Bichette. The Blue Jays retain mutual interest in a reunion, though Toronto may prefer a short-term deal.
Bichette’s contract demands could complicate matters
According to Heyman, Bichette is seeking a contract worth approximately $300 million. That price tag has given teams pause.
Only three players have signed contracts worth more than $100 million this offseason: Pete Alonso (five years, $155 million with the Orioles), Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million with the Blue Jays), and Kyle Schwarber (five years, $150 million with the Phillies).
No position player has come close to Bichette’s reported ask. The market simply has not supported that type of spending. Bichette may need to adjust his expectations or accept a shorter deal with a higher annual value.
His 2025 season showed he can still produce
Bichette bounced back from a dismal 2024 campaign. He slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI over 139 games for the Blue Jays. His OPS+ of 129 ranked among the best for middle infielders in the American League.
The previous year had been ugly. Bichette hit just .225 with four home runs and a .599 OPS in 81 games. Injuries derailed his season. Questions swirled about whether his best days were behind him.
He answered those doubts in 2025. Bichette recorded his 100th career home run in May. He helped Toronto reach Game 7 of the World Series. He even played second base for the first time in his MLB career during the postseason.
Defense remains a concern for the Yankees
Bichette’s bat is not in question. His glove is another story. He posted minus-13 outs above average at shortstop in 2025, tied for the worst in MLB. Over his career, he has accumulated minus-19 defensive runs saved and minus-32 outs above average at the position.
The Yankees already have Anthony Volpe at shortstop. Bichette has indicated he is willing to move to second base or third base on a full-time basis. That flexibility has expanded his market.
For the Phillies, Bichette would likely play third base if they trade Alec Bohm. For the Yankees, he could slot in at second base alongside Volpe. Jazz Chisholm Jr. could potentially shift to the outfield or be included in a trade.
The Yankees face a decision point
Spring training is roughly five weeks away. The Yankees cannot wait forever on Bellinger. If the gap does not close soon, Bichette could become more than just a fallback option.
The Phillies meeting on Monday could accelerate the timeline. If Philadelphia makes a serious push, other teams may need to respond quickly. Bichette is 27 years old and will turn 28 in March. He is entering his prime years.
The Yankees are monitoring the situation closely. Whether they make a move depends on what happens with Bellinger and how aggressively other teams pursue Bichette. For now, they are watching and waiting.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
The Yankees are now paying closer attention to Bo Bichette, and it’s rumored they’ve already arranged a meeting with him. The Yankees should strengthen their efforts in this meeting and do everything they can to persuade Bo Bichette to sign them as a franchisee, making substantial progress on this matter!!!
Come On Let`s Go Yankees!!!!!!