The Philadelphia Phillies have been in the news at the beginning of January thanks to their increasing interest in free agent infielder Bo Bichette.
They've been linked to Bichette, have shown interest, and now, recently, are set to have a meeting with the former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star on Monday, January 12th.
But things are getting even better for the Phillies thanks to an offseason rumor on the New York Yankees from Bob Klapisch of NJ.com. Amid the Yankees' uncertain free agent plans, the Phillies got some big news on their Bichette odds.
Phillies get good news on Bichette thanks to Yankees
"The Yankees don't appear to have a Plan B ready," Klapisch writes. "Outfielder Kyle Tucker is too expensive, and infielder Bo Bichette is almost certainly headed to the Phillies, where Don Mattingly, his former bench coach in Toronto, will assume that same role at the other end of the Jersey Turnpike."
Klapisch's report suggests that the Phillies are "almost certainly" going to sign Bichette to a free agent contract this winter. That's a significant update.
More: Phillies have 3 teams competing for J.T. Realmuto's signature in free agency
While there was a chance that the Phillies would get Bichette thanks to their Monday meeting, this report from Klapisch is one of the more substantial comments on the Phillies' chances of signing the top infielder this winter.
Bichette would be an incredible pickup for the Phillies lineup, and while it would lead to J.T. Realmuto not re-signing and Alec Bohm getting traded, he would be a huge boost to the offense in Philadelphia.
They've been strongly linked to Bichette, but this report from Klapisch, amid a bleak future for the Yankees, came with an incredible update on the Phillies' odds of signing Bichette to a free agent deal.
More MLB news:
- Royals predicted as dark-horse landing spot for.814 OPS free agent from Yankees
- No one is talking about this team as a sleeper in Cody Bellinger's free agency market
- Giants linked to 296-HR free agent slugger as potential signing
- Diamondbacks get good news on signing Paul Goldschmidt in free agency
- Tigers urged to sign 1 or 2 future Hall of Famers for Detroit reunion
- Rangers' rotation pitched as needing this free agent signing