NEW YORK — The Yankees have entered the Bo Bichette sweepstakes. They reached out to the two-time All-Star shortstop this week. The move signals a potential shake-up in the Bronx infield.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post broke the news on Wednesday. The Yankees are among three previously unreported teams pursuing Bichette. The Dodgers and Cubs have also checked in on the former Blue Jays star.
“Three previously unreported teams have checked on superstar Bo Bichette: Yankees, Dodgers and Cubs,” Heyman wrote.
The interest comes just days after the Yankees missed out on Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai. The Astros signed Imai to a three-year, $63 million deal. The Yankees were not seriously involved in that bidding.
Bichette willing to change positions
The Blue Jays shortstop has told teams he will play second base. That decision could reshape his market entirely. It certainly changes his fit with the Yankees.
Bichette played second base for the first time in his MLB career during the 2025 World Series. He handled the position without committing an error across 32 innings. The Blue Jays made the move to keep Andres Gimenez at shortstop while getting Bichette’s bat into the lineup.
His defensive metrics at shortstop have raised concerns. Bichette posted minus-13 Outs Above Average in 2025. That ranked last among all MLB shortstops alongside Seattle’s J.P. Crawford. Teams appear reluctant to pay him shortstop money for shortstop defense.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported the position shift in mid-December.
“It seems like the message has gotten through to him that teams don’t view him as a shortstop in the long-term,” one source told Feinsand.
What Bichette brings to the table
The bat is undeniable. Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 139 games during the 2025 season. He finished with a 134 wRC+, placing him inside the top 20 among qualified hitters.
His career numbers speak volumes. Over seven seasons with Toronto, Bichette has batted .294 with 111 home runs and 437 RBI. He twice led the American League in hits. He made the All-Star team in 2021 and 2022.
Bichette returned from a knee injury to play in the World Series. He went 8-for-23 with a three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7. The Blue Jays lost to the Dodgers in 11 innings despite his efforts.
The 27-year-old rejected Toronto’s $22.025 million qualifying offer. He is seeking a long-term contract worth well over $100 million.
Yankees already have an infield
The Yankees have Jazz Chisholm at second base. Anthony Volpe plays shortstop. Ryan McMahon is signed through 2027 at third base. Adding Bichette would require moving pieces around.
Heyman reported another key detail in the same column. The Yankees are listening to trade offers for Chisholm. The pairing of those two developments is not coincidental.
Chisholm is entering his final year of club control before free agency. General manager Brian Cashman has stated he remains “open-minded” about a potential trade if the return is right.
Volpe will miss the start of the 2026 season following labrum surgery. Jose Caballero is expected to cover shortstop until Volpe returns.
The fit makes sense on paper
The Yankees need right-handed bats. Bichette hits from the right side. The lineup has enough power but suffers from too many strikeouts. The infielder makes contact at an elite rate.
His ability to put the ball in play would complement Aaron Judge perfectly. The lineup lacks a high-contact hitter who can bat near the top of the order. Bichette fills that void.
MLB analyst Aailyan Mohammed of Newsweek predicted Bichette will sign a six-year, $180 million deal with the Yankees.
“The Yankees have reportedly listened to teams inquiring about Chisholm, and Brian Cashman noted he is open-minded to the idea of trading a player like him,” Mohammed wrote. “If the Yankees receive an offer they like, they could deal Chisholm, opening the door for Bichette to take over at second base.”
Defense concerns cloud the picture
Not everyone believes Bichette is an upgrade. Some analysts question whether substituting Chisholm for him actually improves the roster.
Chisholm posted plus-5 Fielding Run Value at second base in 2025. He also ranked as an above-average baserunner. Bichette posted minus-3.2 BsR, the worst mark among all shortstops.
A knee injury cost Bichette seven weeks in 2025. His sprint speed dropped from average to firmly below average. Teams must wonder if his legs will hold up over a six or seven-year contract.
Chisholm produced more WAR than Bichette in each of the last two seasons. The gap between their bats may not be wide enough to overcome the defensive difference.
Competition for Bichette heats up
The Blue Jays want to bring Bichette back. The Red Sox have held Zoom meetings with him. Now the Yankees, Dodgers and Cubs have entered the picture.
Toronto knows him best after drafting him in 2016. Bichette has repeatedly expressed his desire to win a championship with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays came within two outs of the title in 2025.
The Yankees checking in does not guarantee a serious pursuit. Cashman is known for doing his homework on every top free agent. But the connection to the Chisholm trade talks suggests this is more than routine due diligence.
Bichette would give the Yankees another offensive weapon in an AL East arms race. The Blue Jays won the pennant. The Orioles added Pete Alonso. Boston is building around a young core. The Yankees need to respond.
The infield puzzle in the Bronx just got more interesting.
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