The Philadelphia Phillies weren’t thrilled to learn that Bo Bichette spurned their offer to sign a three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets (which includes two opt-outs).
“The word ‘livid’ was used in terms of the reaction to the news that Bichette did not end up coming to the Phillies and ended up going to the Mets,” Todd Zolecki of MLB.com said Monday on The Phillies Show podcast (6:30 mark). “Kind of a rug-pulled-out-from-under-them kind of situation. … A lot of people very upset, I think that feeling is the same in that front office and throughout that entire organization. They thought it was close, or they thought they had him.”
Zolecki also confirmed that the Phillies’ offer was for seven years and $200 million, and multiple reports at the time listed the Phillies as the significant frontrunner to sign him.
“The question is, did his agent say, ‘We have a deal,’ virtual handshake, or was it a, ‘Hey, if you meet this price, we’re gonna get there’ [type of situation],” Zolecki added.
The Phillies quickly pivoted, re-signing catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million deal. But you can bet Bichette will be lustily booed the first time he appears at Citizens Bank Park this season.