Dombrowski: Phillies Losing Bo Bichette to Mets a Gut Punch

In this blog post, let’s break down how the Philadelphia Phillies came within inches of landing one of baseball’s top shortstops. We’ll look at why the deal fell apart and how the club regrouped after a major offseason letdown.

The Phillies’ Near-Miss With Bo Bichette

The Philadelphia Phillies went into the offseason convinced they were close to a franchise-changing signing. Club president Dave Dombrowski said the team genuinely thought it was about to land star shortstop Bo Bichette.

Inside the front office, the momentum felt real. The Phillies even told J.T. Realmuto’s agent that Bichette was the top priority, not re-signing their longtime catcher.

It was a gutsy, win-now move. The Phillies clearly saw Bichette’s bat, durability, and star power as game-changers.

The Contract Offer That Nearly Changed Everything

League sources say the Phillies put a big offer on the table: seven years in the $190–$200 million range. The team liked the idea of a longer deal to spread out the money and keep the luxury-tax hit manageable.

But even with a huge offer and real interest, nothing got signed. That’s where things got messy.

Why Bichette Chose the Mets Instead

Bichette didn’t go long-term with Philadelphia. Instead, he took a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets, which surprised pretty much everyone around the league.

The Mets’ deal had a big twist: after making $47 million in 2026, Bichette can hit free agency again after just one season. That kind of flexibility, plus a monster short-term payday, was tough to turn down.

It Was About Money — and Timing

Dombrowski called missing out a “gut punch.” He said the real difference was all about the money, not some philosophical split.

The Phillies’ refusal to add an opt-out wasn’t what killed the deal. Dombrowski said money was the decisive factor. Philly looked at shorter deals but couldn’t match the Mets’ huge annual salaries without blowing up their luxury-tax plans.

The Luxury Tax Dilemma

The Phillies wanted a longer contract because they were cautious. Spreading out the money over seven years would’ve helped with payroll flexibility and avoided harsh luxury-tax penalties later on.

The Mets went the other way. They used their financial muscle to offer a short-term, high-reward deal that let Bichette:

That combo was just too good to pass up.

Philadelphia’s Swift Pivot to J.T. Realmuto

After missing out on Bichette, the Phillies didn’t wait around. They quickly re-signed J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract, locking down a key spot and showing they’re not backing down from competing.

Moving On, Not Looking Back

Dombrowski admitted the disappointment. Still, he pointed out how important it is to keep some perspective.

Big-market baseball often comes down to the smallest things. In this case, the Mets handled short-term financial pain better, and that tipped the scales.

For the Phillies, the lesson stings a bit: even the best plans can fall apart. With Realmuto back and the core group still together, Philadelphia’s not out of the race—just missing one dream piece.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Phillies losing Bo Bichette to Mets a ‘gut punch,’ Dave Dombrowski says