MLB Trade Rumors: Bo Bichette viewed as potential alternative to Alex Bregman, Blue Jays linked to Tatsuya Imai

With the Winter Meetings underway, the 2025 free agency market is set to heat up. Among several star players enjoying top team pursuits, Bo Bichette and Tatsuya Imai have drawn strong interest from teams.

Bichette staying with the Toronto Blue Jays would be a dream come true for many, but both sides haven’t reached an agreement yet. As per The Athletic, he is deemed a strong fallback option for the Boston Red Sox, with Alex Bregman remaining the priority signing.

Furthermore, the shortstop, who can also play second base, is seen as a good fit for Fenway, with a batting average of .329 and a .907 OPS in 157 plate appearances.

On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs have shown considerable interest in Alex Bregman. They were in contract talks last season until Bregman signed a 3-year $120 million deal with opt-outs after each season. MLB insider Jon Heyman views Bregman as the “most likely fit” for the Cubs in free agency.

Apart from Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman, the Japanese phenom Tatsuya Imai has drawn significant attention from top MLB teams like the NY Yankees, Blue Jays, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Cubs, and others. Initially strongly linked with the Bronx Bombers, the Blue Jays have come up as strong challengers.

During his NPB stint, he recorded a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts in 163 ⅔ innings for the Saitama Seibu Lions. The Blue Jays have voiced their desire to add a Japanese talent to the lineup, and Imai can be seen as a good fit for the team.

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Yankees testing out free agency with notable interest in Tatsuya Imai

Amid the ongoing Winter Meetings in Orlando, Yankees executive Brian Cashman expressed significant interest in signing pitcher Tatsuya Imai. They are deemed as one of the most interested franchises in pursuit of the Japanese star.

"Very talented player coming over from Japan, and we've certainly taken our big swings for trying to add some more talented players -- whether they're local or overseas, as far as Japan," Cashman said of Imai, per SNY.

"So, Scott Boras represents him. So, he's got a long list of talented players on his roster. So, I'm talking to a lot of different agents. But he's obviously one of 'em as well."

Their main target remains re-signing Cody Bellinger, but Cashman noted that the team will remain flexible in adding power. As of now, the top free agents are still on the market, giving the Yankees a number of choices to bolster their roster both in free agency and in the international market.