Blue Jays Notebook: Bichette holds Zoom call with Red Sox, club finalizes coaching additions, preliminary talks on Schneider extension
The offseason has picked up steam, with front office executives from all 30 teams gathering at this year’s winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, and the Toronto Blue Jays are among those generating the loudest buzz. Even after signing free agents Dylan Cease (who will be officially introduced on Tuesday) and Cody Ponce, the franchise continues to look for impact additions, especially on the position player and reliever front.
By all accounts, they remain a serious player who could retain either shortstop Bo Bichette or outfielder Kyle Tucker, but they likely won’t sign both. While the franchise remains open to bringing back the former, its market also includes many other potential suitors, including an AL East rival.
Bo Bichette meets Red Sox
According to Boston reporter Ari Alexander, members of the Red Sox brass recently held a Zoom call with Bichette, which reportedly left him impressed with the organization’s pitch.
It is unclear whether the 27-year-old plans to meet other interested candidates in the future or has already done so. But it doesn’t seem like its market will close anytime soon.
SS Bo Bichette and the #RedSox recently had a Zoom, sources say @7News. According to sources, things went well on both sides. Bichette was impressed with the Red Sox, I’m told. The Red Sox have shown that they are taking the free agent seriously.
Boston is looking for an impactful addition to its infield group this season, with holes at second and third base. Signing Bichette could fill the first of those positions, leaving Trevor Story at shortstop. Or they could decide to trade both players.
The Red Sox also have Marcelo Mayer at their disposal, giving them the flexibility to explore the third base market, leaving the door open for a possible return of Alex Bregman or the pursuit of power-hitting corner infielder Eugenio Suárez.
New coaching additions
The Blue Jays will soon formally announce their 2026 coaching staff, Schneider said, with that announcement expected this week. There will be three new faces around the team next season, two of which will be external hires – Drew Butera is one – and the other will come via an internal promotion.
Schneider added that the club plans to fill Mattingly’s versatile role “in a variety of ways.”
Blue Jays and John Schneider working on New Deal
Both sides briefly discussed what a new deal would look like, but most of that discussion is scheduled for later in the winter. Everyone’s current priority is to continue focusing on roster improvements now that the coaching staff has been finalized.
“Right now I want to focus on how we make our team better. I expect and hope that there will come a time when we will talk about it together,” Schneider told reporters during the winter meetings.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I’ve been here a long time, and I want to be here for a long time, and Mark and Ross both know that.”
Any future extension stuff for president and CEO Mark Shapiro (whose contract expires next month) and general manager Ross Atkins (signed through 2026) will also likely be put on the back burner until closer to spring training.
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