Bo Bichette, the Toronto Blue Jays two-time All-Star shortstop, held a videoconference meeting on Monday with officials from the Philadelphia Phillies, and according to insider reports, the conversation went “very well,” in what was only the latest indication that the 27-year-old will not be back in Toronto on Opening Day.
The Blue Jays have apparently been planning for Bichette’s departure in free agency at least since November, when they signed a power-hitting shortstop who is one year younger than Bichette, and who, despite an up-and-down career so far, could be seen as a potential replacement for the 111-career home run hitter — whose final round-tripper as a Blue Jay came in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But one potential replacement for Bichette’s power-hitting ability in the middle infield can now be scratched off the board.
Rodolfo Castro Holds an MLB Home Run Record
On Nov. 26, Toronto signed Rodolfo Castro, a former Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop who holds a major league home run record as the first player since 1900 to slam round-trippers as each of his first five big league hits.
Castro immediately displayed his power when the Blue Jays signed him, after he elected free agency following two years in the Phillies organization during which he saw action in only 14 major league games, leading all Dominican Winter League shortstops with six homers despite playing in only 27 games.
Castro Suddenly Makes Move Overseas
Though Toronto signed Castro less than two months ago and he was already displaying the power ability that must have intrigued them, realistically Castro would need to fight for a spot in the Blue Jays’ infield and was likely to spend most of 2026 with the Buffalo Bisons.
But Castro will now pursue another possible avenue back to the big leagues.
GettyRodolfo Castro #14 of the Pittsburgh Pirates dives for the ball during the fourth inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on June 22, 2023 in Miami, Florida.
Last weekend, Castro got his release from the Blue Jays in what at the time appeared to be a puzzling and slightly shocking move. But on Tuesday, his reasons for leaving the defending American League champions became clear when it was reported that the native of Los Llanos, Dominican Republic, would play next season in Japan. The report came from Boston reporter Ari Alexander.
“The Blue Jays have released IF Rodolfo Castro, to allow him to pursue an opportunity with the NPB’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters,” Alexander reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed “source.”
The Nippon-Ham Fighters last won the Japan Series championship in 2016 when they were led by a two-way hitting and pitching phenom named Shohei Ohtani.
Opportunity to Play Every Day in Japan
“Rather than try to earn his way into a crowded infield picture as a non-roster invitee, he’ll collect a guaranteed salary and head to Asia for the first time in his career,” wrote Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors on Tuesday.
“The righty-hitting infielder was in Triple-A when he suffered a season-ending thumb injury in 2024. Philadelphia dropped him from the 40-man roster that offseason. Castro played the entire ’25 season with their top affiliate in Lehigh Valley. He hit .235/.324/.421 with 19 homers and 18 stolen bases,” Franco recounted.
“Castro qualified for minor league free agency and would likely have been at Triple-A Buffalo had he not gotten the NPB opportunity,” the MLB Trade Rumors writer continued.
According to Yakyu Cosmopolitan, a news outlet covering pro baseball in Japan, the Fighters are “adding Rodolfo Castro for depth up the middle,” but the former Pirates, Phillies and Blue Jays farmhand is not guaranteed a starting spot. The Hokkaido-based Pacific League team all has Shu Yamagata, Daigo Kamikawabata, and Taiki Narama as options in the middle infield.
A solid performance playing every day in Japan could provide Castro with another possible route back to the major leagues, and potentially a new chance to play for the Blue Jays.
Jonathan Vankin JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist and writer who now covers baseball and other sports for Heavy.com. He twice won New England Press Association awards for sports feature writing. He was a sports editor and writer at The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo, Japan, covering Japan Pro Baseball, boxing, sumo and other sports. More about Jonathan Vankin
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