🚨 BOSTON RED SOX TURN TO BO BICHETTE AFTER BREGMAN LOSS, PHILLIES EMERGE AS FAVORITES 👇

The Boston Red Sox may have to quickly pivot after losing out on Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs. With their sights now set on Bo Bichette, the free-agent shortstop, the Red Sox are facing fierce competition from teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, who appear to be in the driver’s seat to land the star infielder.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Phillies are leading the race for Bichette’s services. Rosenthal speculated on Foul Territory that, if he had to guess, the Phillies would emerge as the favorites to secure Bichette. The team is making a concerted effort to close the deal, and with a Zoom meeting already scheduled, they are hoping to strike a deal sooner rather than later.

“If I had to guess right now, I would say the Phillies are the favorite,” Rosenthal said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Phillies in the Driver’s Seat: Can the Red Sox Catch Up?

The Philadelphia Phillies aren’t wasting time. Following their Zoom meeting with Bichette, Rosenthal hinted that the team is eager to finish negotiations and get the deal done.

“You sort of don’t want to let him get off the Zoom without getting a deal done, right?” Rosenthal said. “It’s that old theory: Don’t let him walk out of the room until he signs a contract. You can’t really do that on Zoom, I guess, but it’s the same working idea.”

Bichette, who has reportedly been seeking a contract around $300 million, is a prized target for many teams, and it’s clear the Phillies are making him a top priority. But as it stands, the Red Sox may not be in a position to match those high demands. Rosenthal suggests that it is unlikely the Red Sox would offer Bichette a $200 million deal over eight years, especially given their recent focus on other needs.

Red Sox Set to Pursue Other Targets

With Bo Bichette potentially slipping away, the Red Sox are not without options. According to Rosenthal, the team might pivot toward Eugenio Suárez, a free-agent third baseman, and J.T. Realmuto, an elite catcher. These players would add depth to a lineup that has been in need of a boost after missing out on Bregman. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are expected to continue strengthening their pitching staff as they look to stay competitive in the coming seasons.

“The Red Sox can still put together a very representative team, and other executives around the league still think they’re pretty good,” Rosenthal said. “They’re going to do some more, perhaps, and maybe it won’t be a big bat. Maybe they go for a high-end pitcher and then supplement themselves with lower kinds of bats.”

The Red Sox are expected to focus their resources on improving their pitching, but it’s clear that they still have a lot of ground to cover if they hope to build a championship-caliber team.

What’s Next for the Red Sox?

After missing out on Bregman, the Red Sox will need to act quickly to ensure they don’t fall further behind. With Bo Bichette likely heading to Philadelphia, Boston will need to reevaluate their strategy. Suárez and Realmuto might not be enough to fill the hole left by Bregman’s departure, and the team will need to be creative in how they strengthen their roster moving forward.

The offseason isn’t over yet, but time is running out for the Red Sox to make their move. They still have options, but if they miss out on Bichette, they will have to be strategic in how they approach the rest of the winter. One thing is clear: Boston has its work cut out for it in the pursuit of a contender-level team.