MLB insiders' bold Bo Bichette claims aged like milk for devastated Phillies fans

Before Friday, the Philadelphia Phillies appeared to be the team on the verge of signing Bo Bichette. They met with him and emerged as the favorites to add the infielder, according to at least a couple of MLB insiders.

However, the “experts” ended up being dead wrong as the Phillies not only didn't sign him, but one of their division rivals, the New York Mets, ended up swooping in and winning the Bichette sweepstakes.

The Mets ended up needing to make a big signing after falling short of adding Kyle Tucker, who instead signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York quickly pivoted to Bichette and got the last laugh on Philadelphia by agreeing to a three-year, $126 million contract the following day, leaving Phillies fans stunned.

Top MLB insiders gave Phillies fans hope before the Mets stole Bo Bichette away

Before the Tucker and Bichette fallout, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan gave Phillies fans a boost of confidence, predicting that the favorite Phillies would be the highest bidders in the lead for Bichette.

"I think the expectation is that the Phillies, at the end of the day, are going to be the highest bidders. They have reason to go after him,” Passan said.” They have a need, not just for the right-handed complement [Kyle] Schwarber and [Bryce] Harper, but also just to go rejigger that clubhouse a little. Teams get stale sometimes, and if you look at the Phillies' [postseason results over the last couple of years], that incarnation of them couldn't get over the hump.

“There are a lot worse ways to mix it up than bringing in Bo Bichette, a guy who, whatever he plays whether it's second base, third base, or even shortstop, you know he's going to hit, and you know he's going to be a productive bat."

Bichette would've improved the Phillies' offense, giving them another reliable right-handed hitter. They have lacked that in their lineup at crucial points during the past few seasons, specifically in the playoffs.

The 27-year-old totaled 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and a .311/.357/.483 slash line with a .840 OPS in 139 games last year. He also provided a boost for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series, going 8-for-23 with one home run, six RBIs, and a .348/.444/.478 line with a .922 OPS in seven games.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal also predicted on Foul Territory that he didn't expect the Blue Jays to re-sign Bichette and that the Phillies would end up adding the infielder.

"I don't expect [the Blue Jays] to sign Bo Bichette. I have not expected it the entire offseason,” Rosenthal said. “… I still believe rather strongly that Bo Bichette's going to end up with the Philadelphia Phillies."

Toronto was also in the mix to sign Tucker. The MLB insider notes that the Blue Jays could've used the money they were going to spend on the outfielder to make an offer to re-sign Bichette. However, that didn't look likely following their addition of Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto.

The Phillies appeared to be the top suitor to sign Bichette following their meeting. A reunion with the Blue Jays wasn't going to happen. The Chicago Cubs were no longer a suitor following the addition of Alex Bregman.

Bichette was also in rumors with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The Red Sox attempted to re-sign Bregman but came up short in their attempts. Their five-year deal with former Phillies pitcher Ranger Suárez may have played a part in not adding Bichette.

And, unfortunately for Phillies fans, the Mets snuck into the mix and upended Philadelphia's hopes of what would have been a much-celebrated signing . They added him to an impressive infield of their own, shocking not only the Phillies and their fans but also the insiders who believed Bichette would end up in Philly.