The 2025 MLB offseason was supposed to belong to stars like Bo Bichette. Instead, as winter deepens, one of baseball’s most recognizable infielders remains without a contract, trapped in what executives around the league quietly describe as a “selective freeze.” While the Winter Meetings delivered fireworks — Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber cashed in early — the market for elite position players has proven far more complicated than expected.
Bichette, just 27 years old and still in the prime of his career, has watched names like Alex Bregman generate louder buzz while his own phone stays stubbornly quiet. It’s a stunning development for a player once viewed as a cornerstone franchise shortstop, and it speaks volumes about how cautious front offices have become in this cycle.
Unlike past offseasons where talent dictated tempo, this winter has been shaped by restraint. Teams spent aggressively early, then slammed the brakes. The result: a group of star hitters — Bichette, Kyle Tucker, and others — now staring at the uncomfortable possibility of waiting until 2026 for long-term security.
For Bichette, the issue isn’t production or reputation. It’s fit.
Several teams see him as a shortstop only. Others see him as a shortstop problem. Defensive metrics, positional logjams, and financial flexibility have all worked against him, creating hesitation in rooms where excitement once came easily.
Yet that hesitation may soon disappear.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Bichette has made it clear he’s willing to move off shortstop and transition to second base. In a league obsessed with versatility, that single concession could flip the entire narrative.
At second base, Bichette becomes a different asset — a middle-of-the-order bat without the defensive pressure that has complicated his market. For teams with established shortstops but glaring offensive needs, the door is suddenly wide open.
That willingness alone has quietly reignited conversations behind the scenes, even if nothing has yet surfaced publicly.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
No team weaponizes patience like the Dodgers. With their championship window always pried open, Bichette fits perfectly as a high-upside chess piece. A move to second base would allow Los Angeles to upgrade offensively without disrupting their infield hierarchy. If the Dodgers strike, it will be sudden — and it will send shockwaves.
2. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are hunting for stability and star power. Bichette’s bat would immediately upgrade a lineup still searching for consistency. Chicago has the payroll space, the market appeal, and the urgency to act before another lost season slips away.
3. San Francisco Giants
Desperate to land a marquee name, the Giants have repeatedly finished second in major pursuits. Bichette represents a chance at redemption — a recognizable star who can anchor the infield and reenergize a restless fan base.
4. Seattle Mariners
Offense has haunted Seattle for years. Bichette’s flexibility could solve multiple problems at once, giving the Mariners a middle-infield boost without forcing defensive compromises.
5. Toronto Blue Jays Reunion
Never fully off the table, a short-term reunion remains possible if the market collapses further. Toronto knows Bichette better than anyone, and familiarity could become leverage in a stalled winter.
Every passing week shifts leverage away from the player and toward the teams. Bichette’s camp knows this, which explains the openness to a position change — a calculated move designed to break the deadlock.
History suggests this standoff won’t last forever. One signing often triggers another, and once the first domino falls, the market can change overnight.
For now, Bo Bichette remains baseball’s most fascinating unanswered question of the 2025 offseason. A star waiting in silence. A market frozen by caution. And five teams watching closely, knowing that the next move could redefine their season before it even begins.
The quiet won’t last forever — and when it breaks, it may start with Bichette.
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