Insider addresses potential Bo Bichette trade

Whether or not the New York Mets will attempt to acquire a younger prospect or two for infielder Bo Bichette before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline will be one of the main storylines that hovers over the Mets. 

This past winter, Bichette signed a three-year, $126M deal that included opt-outs after the first and second years to join the Mets. On Thursday, Mets reporter Tim Britton of The Athletic touched upon how that contract will impact at least Bichette's short-term future. 

Will Mets turn the clock back to 2023 to complete Bo Bichette trade? 

"This would probably have to be a deal like the one the Mets made with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in 2023, with conditions on money being sent and commitments regarding the player option for New York to receive real value," Britton said about a possible Bichette trade. 

The Mets loaded up on prospects by trading Scherzer, Verlander and other proven commodities in the summer of 2023. However, Britton seemingly doesn't see history repeating itself over the next handful of weeks. 

"The key difference between Bichette and the Scherzer/Verlander situations is that the Mets should have little appetite to spend any real money on Bichette playing elsewhere, and it’s hard to see a trade coming to fruition where New York doesn’t commit some future money to protect an acquiring team from Bichette declining his player option," Britton explained. "The Mets plan to try contending again next season (which wasn’t the case at the time of the Scherzer/Verlander trades in 2023), and Bichette will only be 29 that season if he doesn’t elect free agency."

Britton's line about the Mets wanting to contend in 2027 shouldn't go ignored, as that is one reason New York reportedly won't trade shortstop Francisco Lindor. While Bichette's rough start to his Mets tenure understandably caused some to wonder if he could handle calling the New York market home, he seems to have settled in amid the team's struggles. 

According to Baseball Reference, Bichette slashed .341/.362/.530 with an .892 OPS, five home runs and 22 RBI over 32 games from June 3 through July 8. 

Why Mets could make Bo Bichette gamble

A recent report said that "people familiar with the Mets' thinking say they still do not have a sense of whether Bichette will opt out" of his contract. 

"Bichette could be the third baseman for two more seasons after this one," Britton added about the Mets. "He could be the third baseman for two more months. The Mets will have so much to do this winter, and the first big domino to drop will be Bichette’s decision." 

In short, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns may only make Bichette available if the 28-year-old makes it clear he plans to choose free agency.