Phillies predicted to sign $63M veteran All-Star with World Series experience linked to Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies were full of excitement after meetings with Bo Bichette. It seemed like everything was set in stone, but in the end, it was the New York Mets who won the sweepstakes.

“The New York Mets, in a quick pivot after failing to sign Kyle Tucker, have agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract with infielder Bo Bichette, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. The deal, which is pending a physical, includes player opt-out clauses after the first and second seasons. It does not include any deferred money, giving the contract a straight average annual value of $42 million,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.

With Bichette off the board, the Phillies don’t have many clear options for major lineup upgrades. FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes signing Chris Bassitt could be a smart move.

“Whiffing on Bo Bichette set the Philadelphia Phillies back a lot. There is no clear path to a major lineup upgrade at this point, meaning Dave Dombrowski probably turns his attention to fine-tuning the rotation. Philadelphia needs someone to eat innings while Zack Wheeler rehabs his elbow. Bassitt, 36, has made his reputation on durability. He still misses barrels with a healthy mix of off-speed pitches, and he can move into a bullpen role if such a need arises, too,” Kline wrote.

Interestingly, Bassitt has also been linked to another NL East team, the Atlanta Braves.

“The Braves may be projecting confidence in their current rotation, but it’s hard to believe there isn’t some level of concern with so many arms coming off significant injuries. They could really use another proven starter, and while it’s unlikely they’ll dive into the top tier of the market, a steady veteran like Chris Bassitt makes a lot of sense. Bassitt has thrown at least 157 innings in each of the last five seasons and owns a 3.66 ERA over that stretch,” Sports Talk’s ATL Chase Irle wrote.

The Phillies could do exactly what the Mets did to them and swoop in to acquire Bassitt from the Braves. The right-hander is a veteran nearing the latter part of his career, and he understands his role: providing stability and innings for the organization.

Philadelphia already has a solid rotation, but until their ace returns from injury, they need a dependable option. At this stage of free agency, there may not be a more reliable name available than Bassitt.

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