Bo Bichette to the Mets Opens a Door for the Guardians - Enter Brett Baty
After a quiet holiday stretch, the MLB hot stove is back to a rolling boil. Kyle Tucker kicked things off by signing with the Cubs, and just a day later, the Mets made a splash of their own, landing Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126 million deal. But while the move adds another big bat to Queens, it also raises a fascinating question: What does this mean for the rest of the Mets' infield?
Bichette is expected to play third base full-time - a notable shift considering he’s never logged a single MLB inning at the hot corner. That creates a logjam, particularly for Brett Baty, who just wrapped up the best season of his young career. And if the Mets are open to dealing Baty - especially for pitching - the Cleveland Guardians should be first in line.
Why Baty Makes Sense for Cleveland
Let’s start with the numbers. In 2025, Baty slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs across 130 games - all career highs.
He spent most of his time at third base but also logged innings at second, and even made a brief cameo in left field back in 2023. That kind of positional flexibility is exactly what the Guardians need.
Cleveland has long been searching for controllable power, and Baty fits that mold. He’s not just a bat with pop - he’s a left-handed hitter with legit raw power who’s still just scratching the surface of what he can be.
The Guardians have struggled to develop this type of offensive upside from within, especially at the corners. Baty could immediately slot in as an everyday third baseman or corner outfielder, offering lineup stability and the kind of thump that’s been missing.
Of course, there’s a trade-off. Baty’s strikeout rate remains a concern - 108 punchouts last season, landing him in the 26th percentile in strikeout rate league-wide. But when you’re talking about a 455-foot homer to the second deck at Nationals Park (which he did - on back-to-back nights, no less), you’re willing to live with some swing-and-miss.
What Would It Take?
If the Mets are indeed looking to flip Baty for pitching, Cleveland has the arms to make it work. Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick are two young, MLB-ready lefties who could headline a deal. If the Mets are willing to look a bit further down the pipeline, someone like Khal Stephen could also be in play.
Sure, giving up that kind of pitching talent for a still-developing hitter might feel like a gamble. But Baty has four years of team control left and is set to make the league minimum next season. That’s the kind of value small-market teams dream about - a potential middle-of-the-order bat under team control through his prime.
Why the Mets Might Be Motivated
Let’s be real - the Mets’ infield defense is going to be an adventure. Jorge Polanco is expected to play first base, a position he’s never played in the majors.
Bichette, meanwhile, is shifting over to third, also without any big-league experience at the spot. That’s a lot of infield risk for a team that’s talked a big game about run prevention.
So it makes sense that New York would want to shore up its pitching staff to balance things out. Moving Baty could be the cost of doing business - especially if they can bring in a controllable arm to help stabilize the rotation or bullpen.
A Win-Win Scenario?
This is one of those rare situations where both teams could walk away happy. The Mets get a young pitcher to help address their most pressing need.
The Guardians get a power bat with upside who fits their roster and timeline. And Baty gets a real shot to play every day - possibly at multiple positions - on a team that could really use what he brings to the table.
Bo Bichette’s arrival in New York may have stolen the headlines, but the ripple effect might be just as impactful. If the Mets are ready to deal, the Guardians should be ready to deal back.