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Philadelphia is emerging as a key player in the pursuit of free agent infielder Bo Bichette,according to reports,adding another high-profile team to the mix for the 25-year-old shortstop. The Phillies’ interest signals a potential shakeup to their infield, even with established players already in place.
Phillies Enter the Bichette Sweepstakes
The Phillies are weighing a move for Bichette despite having a solid core, possibly altering their plans for the upcoming season.
- the Phillies have re-signed Kyle Schwarber and added Adolis Garcia and several bullpen arms this offseason.
- Trea Turner is currently entrenched at shortstop for Philadelphia, creating a potential positional challenge for Bichette.
- Philadelphia is reportedly seeking a right-handed platoon bat and rotation depth, but Bichette’s name has surfaced as a possible target.
- A move for bichette could involve trading Alec Bohm, who is entering his final year of team control.
The Phillies have been active this offseason, highlighted by the re-signing of Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract. They’ve also brought in outfielder Adolis Garcia on a one-year deal and revamped their bullpen with the additions of Kyle Backhus,Brad Keller,and Zach Pop,while trading away Matt strahm. Last month, reports indicated the team was focused on adding a right-handed bat to platoon in the outfield and bolstering their starting rotation. However, Bichette’s name has unexpectedly entered the conversation.
Bichette,a right-handed hitter,is coming off a 2025 season were he batted .298/.341/.475 with 24 home runs and 87 RBIs. While his offensive production is undeniable, his defensive shortcomings at shortstop are well-documented.He ranked in the 33rd percentile in Outs Above average (OAA) and the 36th percentile in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).A shift to second base could mitigate these concerns by requiring shorter throws and reducing his exposure to batted balls from right-handed hitters, a traditional weakness. The Phillies’ current second baseman, Bryson Stott, batted .257/.328/.391 in 2025, a league-average wRC+. Defensively, he was considered average to positive, with 0 DRS and 7 OAA, and was worth 3.1 fWAR-sixth among qualified second basemen.
Signing Bichette to play second could necessitate a move for Stott to third base, where he has only played 15 big-league innings. However, this alignment could be defensively sound. while Bichette struggles against right-handed hitters, stott recorded an equal 4 OAA against both right-handed and left-handed batters in 2025. Moving Stott to third,despite his below-average arm strength,could be viable given his range and sprint speed.
Bohm’s Future in Philadelphia?
An infield alignment of Stott at third, Turner at short, and Bichette at second would leave Alec Bohm without a regular position. Bohm batted .287/.331/.409 with a 105 wRC+ in 120 games as the Phillies’ primary third baseman in 2025, a slight decline from his 2024 performance.His defense also regressed, dropping from 4 OAA to -2 OAA. Bohm is entering his final year of team control and is projected to earn $10.3 million through arbitration, making him a potential trade candidate. A poll conducted in October indicated that 69.72% of fans believed the Phillies would trade him.
Whether the Phillies are genuinely interested in Bichette or simply conducting due diligence remains to be seen. However, acquiring him and trading Bohm could upgrade both their offense and infield defense. Bichette was ranked No. 2 on a recent list of top free agents, with a projected eight-year, $208 million contract. Adding his $26 million annual salary while subtracting bohm’s $10.3 million would bring the team’s 2026 payroll to just under $281 million, leaving approximately $10 million for a potential reunion with Realmuto and other additions, assuming they maintain a similar payroll to their 2025 total of $291 million.
