Boston RedSox
The Red Sox have not been shy about their desire to re-sign or replace Bregman, adding to an infield mix that already consists of Trevor story And Marcelo Mayer as likely starting options. Bichette would certainly be as strong an addition as any for the Red Sox, adding a transformative right-handed bat to their heavily left-handed lineup. Bichette would likely be the weakest defender at shortstop between himself, Story and Mayer, but that shouldn’t be a major problem considering Bregman doesn’t play shortstop himself and Bichette is willing to leave his original position heading into 2026.
All of that makes Bichette an excellent fit for the Red Sox, and that’s certainly why they held a video meeting with him last month. Still, there are some potential obstacles. The team has reportedly become more aggressive in their pursuit of Bregman in free agency, and it’s almost impossible to imagine Boston landing both players. Even if they don’t get Bregman back in the fold, the Red Sox have shown a clear preference for using the trade market to improve rather than free agency, so perhaps someone like Brendan Donovan or Kettle Marte would have more appeal.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are a more recent entrant into the Bichette lottery, having been linked to him in recent weeks. Chicago has had a very quiet offseason so far, but with Tucker expected to head elsewhere in free agency, it’s easy to see why they might want to bring in a big bat to supplement the offense. As the #2 free agent in this year’s class behind Tucker, Bichette would certainly qualify, and his relative youth could be attractive to a Cubs team building a core of young talent, including Pete Crow Armstrong, Matt Shaw, Michael BuschAnd Cade Horton with even more young people on the way.
On the other hand, Dansby Swanson And Nico Hoerner are currently the best defensive center infield combination in the league. Bringing Bichette into the fold would seemingly require moving Bichette to third base (pushing Shaw into a utility role) or trading Hoerner to free up the cornerstone role. The team’s front office gave Shaw a vote of confidence earlier this winter, but Hoerner’s name has occasionally come up in trade rumors this winter as he enters his final season of free agency.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Like the Cubs, Los Angeles’ interest in Bichette is a somewhat recent development. It’s almost never a shock to see the Dodgers involved in the market for a top player, and Bichette is no exception. Out in 2025 after a down season Mookie Bettsadding Bichette’s right-handed bat to the middle of the lineup could be very attractive for the Dodgers to replace the big left-handed bats of Shohei Ohtani And Freddie Vrijman.
That said, an infield consisting of Betts at shortstop, Bichette at second base, and Max Muncy at third base could leave a lot to be desired defensively. Furthermore, such an alignment would require a relocation Tommy Edman back to midfield on a daily basis, a move the club may be reluctant to make given his injury history. Of the winter’s top free agents, Tucker seems like an easier choice for the Dodgers given their weak outfield mix. But even with that said, the Dodgers’ financial strength and eagerness to build on their back-to-back World Series victories leaves virtually everything on the table for the club.
Toronto blue jays
While much of the discussion surrounding alternative candidates for Bichette has been due to the seemingly closing window for him to return to Toronto, that doesn’t mean the Blue Jays are completely out of the running. Bichette’s affection for the only team he has known since being drafted in the second round in 2016 has been widely reported for years, and his close bond with fellow star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. From his own perspective, a return to Toronto is certainly the most attractive option. While Tucker better fits the team’s needs after signing Okamoto, Bichette would certainly still be an extremely viable alternative if bidding for the star outfielder falls outside the Jays’ comfort zone. Place Bichette on second base and move Ernie Clemens moving to a bench role or having Okamoto split time between first base, third base, DH and the outfield corners to create playing time for Clement could certainly be a viable option.
Other options
Those four teams may be the most viable options for Bichette, but they are certainly not the only ones. The Phillies are committed to him and could certainly fit him into the lineup if they were to significantly change their lineup by dealing Alec Bohmbut drawing Bichette seems likely to complicate their ability to redraw JT Realmuto. The Yankees have also been linked to Bichette and could be his best chance at shortstop in 2026. Anthony Volpe‘s rough year last season, but they currently seem focused on signing Bellinger and expanding their rotation, pushing Bichette’s pursuit lower on their priority list. The Giants could certainly use an upgrade at the cornerstone Casey Schmittbut they were more focused on trade options like Donovan and Hoerner than the free agent market. The Tigers could theoretically sideline Bichette in 2026 Gleyber Torres before moving him to No. 2 when Torres uses free agency next year to make room for a top prospect Kevin McGoniglebut Detroit’s front office seems largely content to enter 2026 with the same group that got them back-to-back playoff berths the past two seasons.
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