Is Bo Bichette more likely to be a Phillie now that Ranger Suárez has joined Red Sox?

Even if it was expected, seeing Ranger Suárez depart in free agency Wednesday was a tough pill for Phillies fans to swallow. However, it could come with a silver lining. 

Beyond the fact that the Phillies will recoup a draft pick for losing Suárez after he declined the qualifying offer, the Red Sox — who many thought would pivot to Bo Bichette after losing Alex Bregman — might not be inclined to make another huge free-agent investment now. 

Here's what Jen McCaffrey, who covers the Red Sox for The Athletic, had to say Wednesday evening on where Boston goes from here: 

"Though a team source suggested the Red Sox would still be exploring free-agent bats, it seems less likely following the addition of Ranger Suárez. Bo Bichette is thought to still be seeking a $200 million deal, which would put the Red Sox in unprecedented payroll territory." 

If you think about it, it's not particularly shocking that the Red Sox might not be inclined to approach a $200 million asking price for Bichette.

Granted, Bregman is four years older, but they gave up draft-pick compensation and international bonus pool money to sign him as a qualified free agent last offseason and alienated Rafael Devers to the point where he had to be traded after moving him off of third base for Bregman. 

If the Red Sox weren't willing to give Bregman $175 million — with $70 million in deferrals — to play third base, it wouldn't seem to make a ton of sense to give Bichette $200-ish million to play second base and surrender more draft picks and bonus pool money in the process. 

There's no saying that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow won't ultimately still decide to offer Bichette a deal like the three-year/$120 million pact with opt outs that he gave to Bregman last winter. Considering he'll only turn 28 in March, taking a short-term deal and having the opportunity to return to free agency in a year or two without a qualifying offer attached to him might appeal to Bichette. 

But if it's a $200 million deal that Bichette is looking for, Dave Dombrowski may be able to deliver him to a Phillies fanbase clamoring for his bat by offering seven or eight seasons. 

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