The New York Yankees have unexpectedly entered the race for Bo Bichette, checking in on the star infielder as his free agency stretches into 2026, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
New York’s interest comes as the club has reportedly been fielding trade offers for Jazz Chisholm Jr., a move that could open a spot in the infield for Bichette. If the Yankees decide to reshuffle their roster, the two-time All-Star could emerge as a strong offensive fit.
Heyman reports that the Yankees are not alone. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have also reached out to Bichette, who is a free agent for the first time after spending seven seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Other teams believed to be monitoring the market include the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Toronto itself.
Bichette’s bat remains the clear selling point. He is coming off an outstanding 2025 season in which he helped lead the Blue Jays to a World Series title.
Bichette’s bat is impressive, his glove not so much
The 27-year-old slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and a career-best 134 wRC+. He finished the year with 3.8 fWAR and a strong .361 wOBA across 139 games.
Defensively, however, Bichette presents questions. He has rated among the worst defensive shortstops in baseball, posting minus-13 outs above average in 2025 and minus-28 OAA over the past five seasons – the fourth-worst mark at the position.
Bichette has acknowledged the issue and has expressed a willingness to move to second base, which could ease concerns for interested teams.
Health is another consideration. A PCL sprain in his left knee on Sept. 6 ended his regular season and sidelined him for the ALDS and ALCS, though he returned for the World Series while clearly limited.
Bichette’s talent outweighs his propensity for injury
Bichette is expected to be fully healthy by Opening Day in 2026. Still, injuries have followed him in recent years: knee and quad issues limited him to 135 games in 2023, and a calf strain and fractured finger restricted him to just 81 games in 2024.
Despite those risks, Bichette’s long-term production keeps him near the top of a thin infield market. He owns a career slash line of .294/.337/.469, placing him among the most productive middle infield hitters in the sport.
With few impact infield bats available, the Blue Jays star has become one of the crown jewels of this free-agent class. If the Yankees ultimately move Chisholm, they could position themselves as a serious contender to land one of baseball’s premier offensive infielders.
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