Yankees-Bo Bichette rumor feels like damage control as slow offseason persists

The New York Yankees, a club whose sole external addition this deep into the offseason is Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest, are somehow one of the clubs rumored to be in on free-agent star Bo Bichette.

While there's a lot to like about Bichette, a natural shortstop and a career .294 hitter who could bring some much-needed contact skills (not to mention a right-handed bat) to the Yankees lineup, it feels like something of an odd fit.

Fans might look at these rumors and jump for joy, believing that the club is strongly considering an upgrade over the stagnant Anthony Volpe. Except, Bichette is a sieve defensively, posting -12 defensive run saved and -13 outs above average in 2025. That's led to the 27-year-old all but admitting he needs to move to second base.

The Yankees already have a very good second baseman in Jazz Chisholm Jr., and while there have been some trade whispers around him, it would be a complicated dance to sign Bichette and then trade their incumbent in order to rebalance the rest of the roster elsewhere. The timing of the rumor is also strange, given that it came out shortly after we learned that the club didn't make a play for Japanese star Tatsuya Imai and willingly watched him land with the Houston Astros.

The Yankees' Bo Bichette connection feels suspicious in the wake of Tatsuya Imai choosing the Astros

To say that fans would give the club's performance a failing grade this offseason is an understatement. From the Trent Grisham qualifying offer to losing key targets without ever making an offer, and finally to ignoring the bullpen almost entirely, it feels as if the club doesn't believe they have any real work to do.

After last year's early exit at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays, a club that has been aggressive this winter, that is foolish. When a potential target like Imai signs for $54 million, roughly a third of the $150 million-plus many experts predicted he'd get, and the Yankees didn't even try to beat that offer, it sends a message to the fans that they have no interest in trying.

The pinstripe faithful aren't known to be an overly patient or forgiving bunch, and while they typically still fill up the bleachers, tune into the games, and drop lavish sums on merch, they have a breaking point.

Perhaps the Yankees realized that, and drummed up this out-of-left-field interest in Bichette in order to turn down the heat. This is no bargain basement deal we're talking about. Bichette is just entering his prime, has premium bloodlines, and just put up his best full-season performance by wRC+ in his career, coming in at 134.

Contract projections have been in the $150-$200 million range, a number the club seems reluctant to go to with Cody Bellinger, an alleged priority, but they're willing to do so for a player who doesn't fill a major need? That's tough to see.

Maybe there is something to it, but for now, this seems like nothing more than a way to save face. Bichette is a fantastic player, but he doesn't fit around the rest of the pieces already in place. Unless the Yankees are willing to go into overdrive to sign him and then wheel and deal to reshuffle the roster, this doesn't make a lot of sense. And if they are? Then why didn't they get moving a lot earlier on in the winter?