The Mets may not get clarity on Bo Bichette’s future until October, and maybe not even until after the World Series. For now, the biggest question hanging over New York is whether Bichette will walk away from the $42 million option in his three-year, $126 million deal - or stay put for 2027.
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Mets are hoping Bichette does not opt out. As Nightengale wrote, "The Mets are hoping that Bichette at least stick around another season before opting out of the final year of his three-year, $126 million deal."
That hope comes despite a rough season from Bichette. He has put up 0.8 bWAR in 147 games and owns a .707 OPS, which is the second-lowest mark of his MLB career. Even with those numbers, New York would rather keep him than watch him hit the market again.
Nightengale called losing Bichette "disastrous" for the Mets, and it would certainly leave the team in an awkward spot after such a massive investment. Signing him to a deal of that size and only getting one season out of it would be a tough outcome, especially if he decides to test free agency this winter in a weaker market.
The labor negotiations looming ahead could complicate the decision as well. If Bichette believes he can land a new contract with more guaranteed money, opting out becomes a real possibility.
For the Mets, the downside is clear. Bichette opting out would erase $42 million from the books, but it would also open a hole in the lineup and make the club’s big offseason gamble look even shakier.
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