Apr 24, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) bats during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports Jay Biggerstaff
Thursday evening, four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker electrified social media by joining the two-time defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers on a four-year/$240 million free-agent contract, a pact that includes $30 million in deferrals and player opt outs available after 2027 and 2028.
There will be a time and place to engage in the debate about what Tucker joining the Dodgers means for the sport from a business sense, but the immediate focus here is what it means for the Phillies.
For the Phillies, the worst-case scenario probably would have been to have Tucker join the NL East-rival New York Mets. Tucker, though, only strengthens the roster of the Dodgers, who knocked the Phillies out in four games in the NLDS this past season. Certainly, him joining the Dodgers isn't ideal for the Phillies.
The (realistic) best-case scenario for the Phillies would have been for Tucker to sign with the defending AL Champion Toronto Blue Jays, because the earliest the Phillies could see them is in the World Series. Additionally, if the Blue Jays had signed Tucker, it basically would have ended any thought of them reuniting with Bo Bichette, whom the Phillies met with virtually on Monday.
However, if you're looking for a silver lining, Ken Rosenthal had this to say on "Foul Territory" regarding where Toronto goes from here in the immediate aftermath Tucker choosing the Dodgers:
"I don't expect them [the Blue Jays] to sign Bo Bichette. I have not expected it the entire offseason. So yes, they have money that they would have devoted to Kyle Tucker that they could now redirect to Bo Bichette. But I still believe, rather strongly, that Bo Bichette is going to end up with the Philadelphia Phillies."
Ken Rosenthal after the Kyle Tucker deal on @FoulTerritoryTV: “I still believe, rather strongly, that Bo Bichette is going to end up with the Philadelphia Phillies.”
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Many Phillies fans on social media assumed Thursday evening that the Blue Jays would circle back with Bichette and get something done after losing Tucker. At the very least, that doesn't seem to be the most likely outcome.
As is, the infield for the Blue Jays seems set. Obviously, they have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, set to begin a 14-year/$500 million extension this season. They just gave Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto a four-year/$60 million deal, presumably with the thought he will play third base. If that's the case, postseason hero Ernie Clement will slide over to second base, and Andrés Giménez — while better at second — will continue to play shortstop, like he did during this past October. The Blue Jays, in theory, could try to trade Giménez, but they would then be committing to Bichette back at shortstop, a position where he has minus-19 defensive runs saved and minus-32 outs above average in his career.
For the Phillies to sign Bichette, they would have to do some infield rearranging of their own, though they might be more inclined to do that than the Blue Jays. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported earlier this offseason that Bichette is willing to move to second base, so that presumably would be what he would do for the Phillies, considering Trea Turner's bounce-back year at shortstop in 2025 and Bichette's shortcomings at his natural position. The platoon of Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa could slide over to third base, and then the Phillies could trade Alec Bohm's $10.2 million salary for his contract year of 2026, offsetting the likely staggering cost of Bichette.
Obviously, nothing is finished yet. Until Bichette is putting on red pinstripes in a press conference at Pass and Stow, Phillies fans shouldn't do a victory lap. However, they shouldn't be discouraged either.
