The Phillies have been busy retooling their roster this offseason, mixing important re-signings with targeted additions and unavoidable losses as they look to remain a contender in the National League East. Philadelphia has prioritized retaining its offensive foundation, improving overall depth, and filling specific needs through both trades and free agency while navigating the limits of a veteran-heavy payroll.
Among the most significant moves were long-term commitments to Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, ensuring continuity, leadership, and sustained production in the lineup. The club also added outfielder Adolis García on a one-year deal to inject right-handed power, brought in reliever Chase Shugart from Pittsburgh to reinforce the bullpen, and signed starter Brad Keller to a multi-year contract to solidify the rotation. On the other side, the Phillies lost left-hander Ranger Suárez to the Red Sox in free agency.
The New York Mets’ unexpected move to land Bo Bichette has begun to reveal just how close other contenders came to signing the star shortstop, and the latest revelations are especially frustrating for Philadelphia Phillies supporters.
Now that Bichette is headed to Queens, more information has surfaced about how his free agency unfolded behind the scenes. According to USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Phillies made a serious late push on Thursday night, presenting Bichette with a seven year, 200 million dollar offer that matched what the player was seeking. The structure of the proposal suggested a deal was within reach and that Philadelphia believed it was on the verge of closing.
That momentum shifted quickly. After missing out on Kyle Tucker, the Mets pivoted aggressively and jumped into the Bichette negotiations. New York ultimately topped the Phillies with a more favorable annual value, committing 126 million dollars over three years, a move that sealed the outcome and redirected Bichette to the National League East rival.
On the field, Bichette reminded the league in 2025 why he was one of the most coveted free agents available. In 139 games with the Toronto Blue Jays, he hit .311 while collecting 181 hits, 18 home runs, and 94 runs batted in, finishing with an .840 OPS. Although his average dipped to .281 in July, he caught fire down the stretch and ended the season second in Major League Baseball in batting average. His performance earned him All MLB Second Team honors, and he was even better in the postseason, batting .348 with one home run and six RBIs in seven games.
Since debuting in 2019, Bichette has built an impressive résumé across 748 career games. He owns a .294 lifetime average with 111 home runs, 437 RBIs, and 60 stolen bases. A two time All Star in 2021 and 2023, he has led the American League in hits twice and accumulated 21.0 WAR, making the Mets’ decisive strike all the more painful for Phillies fans who know how close their team came.