The Phillies are making moves - or at least, they’re putting themselves in position to. Philadelphia has reportedly met with Bo Bichette, signaling clear interest in the 27-year-old infielder. It’s a bold step for a team that still has a hole to fill behind the plate and is already walking a financial tightrope when it comes to the luxury tax.
Let’s start with the obvious: Bichette is one of the top names left on the market. A proven bat with defensive upside, he’d bring a dynamic presence to the Phillies’ infield.
With the Cubs now out of the running after their deal with Alex Bregman, the path to Bichette might be a little clearer for Philly - but that doesn’t mean it’ll be cheap. Whether a formal offer was made during the meeting remains unclear, but the interest is real.
Here’s where things get interesting: J.T. Realmuto, the veteran backstop who’s been a cornerstone of the Phillies for years, doesn’t appear to have any other suitors at the moment. According to insider Jim Bowden, no teams besides the Phillies have shown serious interest in Realmuto, who turns 35 in March and is coming off his least productive season since joining the club.
Realmuto’s 2025 numbers - 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .699 OPS - reflect a player who’s lost a step at the plate. His slash line of .257/.315/.384 is serviceable, but it’s a far cry from the offensive impact he once brought. Still, he’s been durable, logging at least 134 games in four of the last five seasons - a rare trait in a league where most catchers are lucky to get through 120.
Bowden believes the smart play for Philadelphia would be to bring Realmuto back on a one-year deal. Given the lack of a market for him, that scenario seems more than plausible.
It’s a classic case of mutual necessity: the Phillies need a catcher, and Realmuto needs a team. If the price is right, this reunion could make a lot of sense.
But here’s the catch - pun intended. Adding both Bichette and Realmuto would push the Phillies over the final luxury tax threshold, something president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and managing partner John Middleton have reportedly been hesitant to do.
That said, if you’re going to go over, you might as well make it count. And adding a two-time All-Star shortstop and a veteran catcher who still commands a clubhouse could be the kind of swing that puts the Phillies back in serious contention.
Ken Rosenthal recently said he believes the Phillies are the favorites to land Bichette. That’s a big endorsement from one of the sport’s most respected insiders, and it matches what we’ve been hearing elsewhere - including from MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, who reported that Philly is “very interested” in Bichette.
But to make that move work financially, Dombrowski would have to get creative. Some roster reshuffling would be necessary to stay under the cap - or at least to minimize the tax hit.
And while Bichette’s market still has a few moving parts, Realmuto’s situation feels more straightforward. There’s no bidding war, no mystery team waiting in the wings. If he wants to keep playing - and all signs suggest he does - the Phillies are his best (and maybe only) shot, especially if he wants to stay on a team with postseason aspirations.
So here’s where we stand: the Phillies are eyeing a splash with Bichette and a sensible reunion with Realmuto. Pulling off both would be a financial challenge, but not impossible - especially if Realmuto comes back on a team-friendly deal. It’s a delicate balance between upgrading the roster and managing the books, but if Dombrowski can thread that needle, the Phillies could come out of this offseason with one of the most impactful one-two punches in free agency.
Stay tuned. This could get interesting.