Dombrowski: Phillies losing out on Bichette was 'gut punch'

Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is disappointed his team didn't sign infielder Bo Bichette after he felt a deal was about to come to fruition.

"I did think we were going to get a deal done. ... We were close. ... It was a gut punch," Dombrowski said Tuesday, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

"But until you have a signed memo of understanding, you don't have a deal."

Bichette turned down a seven-year, $200-million deal from the Phillies, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reported on "The Phillies Show" on Saturday. Instead, Bichette joined the New York Mets on a three-year, $126-million deal with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.

"The word 'livid' was used in terms of the reaction to the news that Bo did not end up coming to the Phillies and went to the Mets," Zolecki said.

"It's kind of a 'rug pulled out from under them' situation."

Bichette would have added another potent bat to the Phillies' lineup alongside Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and the recently re-signed J.T. Realmuto. The 27-year-old infielder owns a career .806 OPS and ranks seventh in the majors in hits since 2021.

Dombrowski said he still feels great about the club despite not adding Bichette and doesn't plan to attempt to sign another marquee free agent.

"We're content where we are," he said, according to Nightengale.