Philadelphia was on edge on Monday. Despite having to recover from a disappointing end to the Eagles' season, the highly anticipated meeting between free agent shortstop Bo Bichette and the Philadelphia Phillies was front and center in baseball fans' minds.
After the news first broke last Thursday that this meeting was to happen, speculation and excitement ran rampant over the weekend. Aside from learning that the conversation would be virtual, we really had no other information.
Phillies fans were waiting anxiously on Monday evening for any news about the meeting to emerge, but all we got was crickets. Finally, on Tuesday morning MLB insider Jon Heyman gave us ... something.
"Bichette/Phillies meeting is said to have gone very well fwiw. Bichette admires 'first class' organization," Heyman reported on X (formerly Twitter).
Bichette/Phillies meeting is said to have gone very well fwiw. Bichette admires “first class” organization. Other pluses: roster, park, Mattinglys link, spring proximity to home. Would Phils need to deal Bohm, do lesser C than JT? Other Bo suitors: Jays, Red Sox, NYY, LAD, more https://t.co/B4mhk4KUZO
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 13, 2026
Reports of a positive meeting with Bo Bichette still won't let the Phillies avoid the inevitable payroll/roster crunch
However, as some fans might not be aware, there will be casualties of a Bichette signing. Heyman also rightly ponders whether the Phillies would need to part with third baseman Alec Bohm and forget about re-signing catcher J.T. Realmuto.
It has been a much-discussed topic in Philadelphia over the past couple of weeks. The Phillies seem to have a desired payroll of just over $300 million. Trading Bohm and moving on from Realmuto have felt like the inevitable outcome if the Phillies do indeed sign Bichette to a long-term contract that could range anywhere from $25 million to $30 million a year.
Aside from concerns about the payroll and other hypothetical moving roster pieces, we also got another positive report about the meeting. The Athletic's Matt Gelb also reported on Tuesday that "multiple sources briefed on the meeting said both parties emerged with optimism" (subscription required).
So, that's better than nothing, at least. It certainly won't satiate Phillies fans' appetite for a big splash move, however. It doesn't really give us an indication of a timeline or next steps, either.
Gelb reported that it's unknown what was discussed in the broad "feeling-out" meeting or if the Phillies have even made a formal offer. Gelb did note, however, that when faced with a competitive market for a player he really wants, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski likes to use years to separate the Phillies from the pack.
"When the Phillies want a player in a competitive market, they typically wield years as their separator. This, executives from rival clubs have cited in recent days, is why the Phillies’ late entrance into the Bichette market cannot be dismissed," per Gelb.
When the Phillies want a star player in a competitive market, they typically wield years as their separator. It’s one reason why rival clubs are beginning to see them as Bo Bichette’s most serious suitor. Story: https://t.co/avr4CpKfYn
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) January 13, 2026
Right now, it's thought that the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers are in the group of contenders speaking with Bichette. Whether he has received any offers from those suitors is also unknown.
As for why the Phillies would be attractive to Bichette, aside from potentially the longest offer he'll get, Heyman goes on to list the pluses that the Phillies have to offer Bichette.
There's the roster, made up of established veteran stars, which has been one of the top teams in the majors for a number of years now. They have a sprinkle of players just young enough to provide some balance.
That's not to mention the top prospects who are on their way. Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and Aidan Miller will all presumably be large pieces of a Phillies team that could feature Bichette for a number of years.
There's the ballpark. Although the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park is more geared toward favoring left-handed hitters, the righty Bichette loves to take the ball to the opposite field. It's also just a fantastic environment in which to play baseball.
There's the Don Mattingly link. Bichette and the baseball legend have a tight relationship after three years together in Toronto. Mattingly's hiring as the Phillies' new bench coach seems to have played a part in Bichette's interest in Philadelphia.
And finally, there's the proximity of the Phillies' Clearwater spring training complex to Bichette's full-time/offseason residence in Florida. That's a small bonus, but still a bonus nonetheless.
It's impossible to say how much any of this factors into Bichette's decision-making or if it will just come down to the years and dollars. Multiple insiders seem to think that the Phillies should be considered the favorite and have a serious chance at landing the 27-year-old star. Time will tell.