Phillies’ Near Miss with Bo Bichette
It didn’t quite go as planned for Beau.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, had hoped to finalize a seven-year, $200 million contract with All-Star infielder Bo Bichette. However, Bichette turned down a short-term deal from Philadelphia and their rivals, the Mets.
“I can’t say I thought it was done,” Dombrowski shared with reporters. He noted that the team had just secured a three-year contract with JT Realmuto worth $45 million. “We thought we were very close to a deal. We thought it would happen, but it didn’t. There are differences between the two sides. A deal will happen.”
Philadelphia media outlets suggested the front office was extremely upset after Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract with New York, which featured a higher annual salary and various opt-outs.
Dombrowski described this development as a “gut punch” for the team, pointing out that Kyle Tucker’s free agency—ending in a $240 million deal with the Dodgers—might have shifted the market dynamics.
“I think signing Tucker had an impact on the timing,” he remarked. “Smart organizations like the Mets and Dodgers are always in the mix. I’m not sure if Tucker was ever even considering the Mets over the Dodgers, but the Dodgers didn’t seem to get involved until the last minute.”
Dombrowski expressed his belief that Bichette had genuine interest in joining Philadelphia. “I could be wrong, but I think we were very close in terms of offers. There were nuances being discussed when the Mets swooped in with a better deal,” he explained.
Shifting focus, the team moved quickly to reconnect with Realmuto, who is nearing 35. He acknowledged that his future with the Phillies seemed uncertain after they missed out on Bichette.
“Towards the end, it’s true that the Phillies had other options, and I was considering them too,” Realmuto admitted. “It was a bit stressful, honestly, because I wasn’t sure I’d be back. I made it clear all along that I wanted to stay with the Phillies.”
Dombrowski added that while the team was in discussions with Realmuto’s camp regarding Bichette, signing both was unlikely “at this time.”
The three-time All-Star has been an essential part of the Phillies’ lineup since 2019, although he just wrapped up a less-than-stellar offensive season, hitting .257 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs—his lowest numbers since 2016, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020 season.
Dombrowski mentioned that the team anticipates parting ways with two-time All-Star outfielder Nick Castellanos and doesn’t foresee high-profile free-agent signings despite their interest in Bichette.
This offseason, the Phillies added outfielder Adris Garcia and reliever Brad Keller, alongside re-signing slugger Kyle Schwarber.
“I think we’re content where we are right now,” Dombrowski concluded.
