The Philadelphia Phillies are facing accusations of running back virtually the same roster following a playoff disappointment, but they might feel it isn’t for lack of trying.
The Phillies’ biggest offseason moves have been reunions with Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, but it seems the team was pretty close to signing a new star to joining the roster.
“The Phillies were confident Bo Bichette was Philadelphia-bound — until he wasn’t,” Mark Suleymanov wrote for the New York Post. “Bichette passed on the Phillies’ reported seven-year, $200 million offer to join the NL East rival (New York) Mets on a three-year, $126 million deal with a higher average annual value and multiple opt-outs.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ Manager Reacts To Bo Bichette’s $200 Million Rejection
Bringing in Bichette would have marked a significant change for the Phillies, who would have likely had to move an infielder like Alec Bohm and part ways with Realmuto to make room for a new long-term salary. But shortly after the Mets lost out on the bidding for star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team pivoted to Bichette and convinced him to take a more lucrative, short-term deal over what the Phillies’ had offered.
That apparent loss might have stung Phillies fans, and it also took a toll on the team’s manager, at least temporarily.
“For the moment, disappointed,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said when asked for his thoughts about the team missing out on Bichette, per NBC Philadelphia’s Rob Kuestner.
Thomson’s temporary letdown is understandable, as the Phillies were reportedly quite close to closing the deal with Bichette and dramatically improving their infield offense. However, now the team has little choice but to refocus around the veteran stars who will be returning, including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Cristopher Sanchez. And Thomson added that the Phillies expect contributions from a few prospects next season as well.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Manager Reveals Pivot After New York Mets Steal Bo Bichette
“We can’t do anything about it now,” Thomson added, according to Kuestner. “We’ve got a really good club, 96 wins last year, we got Schwarber back, we got JT back. A lot of really good things happening. We’re going to infuse the lineup with some youth, with (Andrew) Painter and Justin Crawford… And so the future’s looking bright.”
Though Phillies fans might be disappointed that Bichette chose the team’s division rival, the Mets did miss the playoffs while the Phillies won the National League East for a second straight time last year. However, if Thomson’s team comes up short again in the playoffs, it might be the final year that the front office is willing to run it back.