THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING. Red Sox-Bo Bichette Updates DROP After Jays’ $60M Strike. The AL East Arms Race Is OFFICIALLY ON.

The Toronto Blue Jays just dropped a $60 million bombshell on Saturday, and it’s sending shockwaves through the AL East—especially for the Boston Red Sox.

By inking third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year pact, the Jays might have slammed the door on any pursuit of Red Sox free agent Alex Bregman (though nothing’s set in stone). But Bregman wasn’t the only star both rivals had their eyes on this offseason.

Apr 29, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) collides with Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell (28) after turning a double play at second base and at first base against first baseman Triston Casas (not pictured) to end the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Boston jumped into the mix early with a Zoom call to longtime Jays shortstop Bo Bichette before the winter meetings, and that buzz has only grown louder lately. Bichette looks like Plan B if Bregman slips away, but Toronto’s latest infield splash could flip the script on the odds.

Fresh off the Okamoto news, Chris Cotillo from MassLive dropped key intel: The Red Sox are still locked in talks with Bregman and his Boras Corp crew, but they’re eyeing alternatives like never before. And Bichette? He’s right at the top of that list.

“The Red Sox remain engaged with Bregman and his agents at Boras Corporation, sources said Saturday, but are also assessing potential alternatives as they have been all winter,” Cotillo reported. “One is longtime Blue Jay Bo Bichette, whose path back to Toronto isn’t blocked by the Okamoto move.”

But hold up—Toronto’s still in the fight for their homegrown talent. Cotillo made it clear the Jays remain a major player here.

Then Jon Heyman of the New York Post cranked up the drama: Boston’s still circling Bichette, but a surprise contender just crashed the party—the Philadelphia Phillies. They’d need to shuffle their infield via trade to make it work, but Philly’s all in.

“The Phillies are among a number of big-market teams to have interest in Bo Bichette, an ultra young (27) free agent,” Heyman wrote. “(New York Yankees), (Chicago) Cubs, (Los Angeles) Dodgers, Red Sox and incumbent Jays, too.”

It’s a waiting game now. The Red Sox are among the heavyweights lurking in the shadows, hoping Bichette’s market cools for a bargain grab. Will they pull off the heist? That’s TBD, but Saturday’s $60M strike from Toronto just cranked up Boston’s chances—and ignited the AL East arms race for real. Stay tuned; this offseason’s about to explode.