Mets Strike Back, Sign Bo Bichette to $126M Deal

It’s been a chaotic 12-hour stretch for the Mets fanbase. Some questioned whether they even wanted to watch baseball next season, while others were ready to grab pitchforks and overthrow the front office. Instead, David Stearns delivered a stunning pivot.

The deal includes two opt-outs within the three years and no deferred money, allowing Bichette to re-enter free agency at ages 28, 29, or 30. He also received a full no-trade clause. Initially, the Phillies were viewed as heavy favorites after a successful in-person meeting on Monday, during which they reportedly offered a seven-year, $200 million contract. The Mets, however, swooped in out of nowhere with a high-AAV deal the former Blue Jay couldn’t refuse.

Bichette played 139 games last season, batting .311, second-best in baseball, while tallying 181 hits (second-most), 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs. He gives the Mets an elite right-handed bat to balance their lineup further.

What It Means for the Mets

The Mets now have a problem: too many infielders.

It has already been announced that Bichette will play third base, creating a logjam across the infield. Brett Baty is now without a clear role, while Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio are all effectively positionless. With multiple teams expressing interest in the Mets’ infield depth, a trade feels inevitable.

One potential partner is the Boston Red Sox. After losing Alex Bregman, Boston has a glaring hole at the corner infield spots. They also recently signed Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $155 million deal, further strengthening their rotation. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reported that Boston could explore moving arms from that rotation, including Brayan Bello.

Additionally, the Red Sox have reportedly listened to outfielders Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu, giving the Mets a chance to address multiple needs in one move.

For now, David Stearns has his Plan B in place. And if this offseason has proven anything, it’s that he’s far from done.