Philadelphia Phillies upcoming second meeting with Bo Bichette makes Toronto Blue Jays return unlikely
Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Phillies upcoming meeting with Bo Bichette is actually the second time they've met this offseason according to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi.
Phillies officials are expected to meet with Bichette on a video conference in the coming days.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi indicates how this upcoming meeting will actually be the second time the Phillies and Bichette have met this offseason.
Morosi also said that the Phillies are legitimate suitors for Bichette and how Philadelphia has become a more likely landing spot for Bo.
"A second meeting is happening between the Phillies and Bo Bichette. The Blue Jays have had weeks and months to strike a multi-year deal with Bo, they haven't done it, and in fact by signing Kazuma Okamoto, they've in someway complicated the path to Bo comin back to Toronto. It's not entirely closed but it's more complicated. It seems to me that the Phillies have become a more likely landing spot for Bo then returning to Toronto". - Jon Morosi
Bichette's connection to former Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly may play a part
Notably, Philadelphia hired Don Mattingly as its new bench coach, the former first baseman filled the same role with the Blue Jays over the past three years, so he has an existing relationship with Bichette.
«The Yankees don't appear to have a Plan B ready. Outfielder Kyle Tucker is too expensive, and infielder Bo Bichette is almost certainly headed to the Phillies, where Don Mattingly, his former bench coach in Toronto, will assume that same role at the other end of the Jersey Turnpike.» - MLB columnist Bob Klapisch
Ken Rosenthal recently reported that Toronto's chances of bringing back Bichette were looking «increasingly unlikely,» with the team focused more on outfielder Kyle Tucker after signing third baseman Kazuma Okamoto.
According to former New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles general manager Jim Duquette: "Bo would be a fantastic fit on the Phillies".
According to a report from the New York Post's Jon Heyman, Bichette is "thought" to be seeking a free-agent contract around $300 million.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 9 | 104 ANSWERS Philadelphia Phillies upcoming second meeting with Bo Bichette makes Toronto Blue Jays return unlikely Do you think the Philadelphia Phillies will sign Bo Bichette? | ||
| Yes | 65 | 62.5 % |
| No | 28 | 26.9 % |
| Too early to tell | 11 | 10.6 % |
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