Interest in incoming free agent Bo Bichette has been largely limited to two teams in the AL East this offseason. Toronto is known to be open to a reunion, while Boston has teamed up with the two-time All-Star over Zoom. Three teams now join the Blue Jays and Red Sox in the race for Bichette’s services, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers have evaluated him.
New York is one of the few competitors that does not have a physical plan in the short term. Anthony Volpe is coming off a brutal season and will miss the start of the 2026 campaign following labrum surgery. Utilityman José Caballero will likely cover shortstop until Volpe returns. The Yankees also re-signed Amed Rosariowho has a lot of experience playing in the middle.
High hopes George Lombard Jr. he is a candidate to hold the position in the future, but coming in as early as this season will be a tall order for the 20-year-old. Adding Bichette will obviously be a long-term commitment, though he could move to second or third base once Lombard is ready.
The Yankees have been heavily linked to pitchers and outfielders in free agency, but a significant internal upgrade could fix that trend. In mid-December, reports surfaced that the club was listening to offers for the midfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. With the front office likely less than motivated to extend Chisholm, who will be a free agent in 2027, dealing him now would make sense. Chisholm’s departure will open up a spot at second base, a position Bichette said he would like to play.
The Cubs’ case is the same. Chicago doesn’t have an obvious need at center, with Dansby Swanson again Nico Hoerner locked in at shortstop and second base, respectively. However, Hoerner is drawing trade interest. The fastballer is entering the final season of a three-year, $35MM extension he signed through 2024. Like the Yankees and Chisholm, if the Cubs aren’t willing to bring Hoerner back, moving him to other assets would be a reasonable option. Hoerner is coming off a strong season in which he hit .297 with 29 stolen bases.
There is also a third base option. The hot corner has been unequivocally mentioned as a defensive position for Bichette, who has seen his metrics drop significantly at the stoppage. In a separate post talking about several free agents, including Bichette, Heyman reported that he draws interest at second base, shortstop, and third base. Bichette could be a backup of sorts if Chicago comes up short in their pursuit Alex Bregman.
Bichette had played only shortstop at the MLB level until a shortstop at second this past season. In his return from a September knee injury, Bichette appeared in five games leading up to the World Series. Played 30 games at second base in the minors. Bichette has never appeared at third base as a professional. His lower arm strength wouldn’t be great in the area, but it would be a better place for his diminishing range. Bichette ranked in the first percentile in Outs Above Average last season. At third base, you’ll have a foul line as a one-sided, rangy bumper Andres Gimenez supporting him on the other side.
The Dodgers have it Mookie Betts is locked in at shortstop, but second base is a short-term hole, and third base could be a long-term need. What’s missing is relative when it comes to back-to-back champs, of course. The second base mix currently includes KBO imports Hyeseong Kimhope Alex Freelandand the newly re-signed Miguel Rojas. Tommy Edman he may also participate when he is not playing on the field. Even if there isn’t a clear standout on the team, there are probably enough options for LA to adequately cover the position without a big addition like Bichette.
Again, the third base is a very interesting discussion. The Dodgers reunited Max Muncy with a $10MM club option. He’s only signed through 2026, though. Muncy will turn 36 before the end of next season. Injuries have cost him significant time over the past two years. His tenure with the Dodgers will likely end sometime in the near future. If the club considers Bichette a good fit at third base, he could spend a year at second base and switch to the hot corner until the end of what could be a lengthy contract.
Photo courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images
