The biggest domino in MLB free agency fell on Thursday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. With the star slugger now off the market, it appears infielder Bo Bichette could soon also be signing a massive contract.
On Friday night, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Philadelphia Phillies are the overwhelming favorites to sign Bichette. Backing that report up, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said on Foul Territory that he expects the All-Star shortstop to strike a deal with Philadelphia.
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“I still believe, rather strongly, that he’s going to end up with the Philadelphia Phillies.”
Ken Rosenthal on which MLB team Bo Bichette will sign with
At the start of the MLB offseason, it seemed likely that Bichette would return to the Toronto Blue Jays. Even after the club signed Tyler Rogers, Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto, many thought that the reigning American League champions would either bring back Bichette or land Tucker.
Instead, the Blue Jays appear poised to miss out on both All-Star hitters. Bichette recently had a meeting with Phillies officials that went very well, and with spring training just a month away, the chances of him joining the club in February seem extremely high.
The signing of Bichette could have its own domino effect on the MLB offseason. If he is signed, the Phillies are expected to shop third baseman Alec Bohm to clear a spot on the infield for the All-Star slugger. It would also mean that J.T. Realmuto, who has been with the club since 2019, will not be re-signed.
Once Bichette signs, all the attention in MLB free agency will finally center on outfielder Cody Bellinger. While he has multiple suitors, the final decision is expected to come down to the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. As of reporting last week by ESPN, the Yankees offered him a five-year deal worth at least 30 million dollars per season to re-sign with the club. However, Bellinger has reportedly been seeking a seven-year contract ahead of his age-31 season.
