Bo Bichette is officially a New York Met, but not everyone’s buying into the narrative he delivered at his Citi Field introduction this week - especially not in Philadelphia.
NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst Ben Davis didn’t hold back when asked about Bichette’s comments during a recent radio appearance on 94WIP. Davis, a former big-league catcher and now a voice for Phillies fans, took issue with Bichette’s remarks about the Mets being “committed to winning” - a sentiment that, on the surface, sounds pretty standard for a new signing. But in the heat of NL East rivalries, even a throwaway line can hit a nerve.
“The fact that he says they’re committed to winning - there’s only a handful of teams that aren’t committed to winning,” Davis said. “But the fact that he says that, like the Phillies aren’t?
Come on, man. Blow that smoke somewhere else.”
It’s clear Davis feels the comment was a shot - intentional or not - at a Phillies team that’s been knocking on the door of a championship for the past few seasons and just came up short in a heartbreaking Game 7 of the World Series. That’s the same Game 7 that Bichette, now months removed from it, says still weighs on him.
During his first press conference as a Met, Bichette made it clear he’s not over that loss - and that it’s fueling his fire heading into 2026. He spoke with conviction about his belief that the Mets offer him a real shot at redemption.
Not just a return to October, but a chance to finish what he started. That belief, he said, made his decision in free agency “very obvious.”
But Davis isn’t buying the dream. In his eyes, Bichette’s move had less to do with chasing a ring and more to do with the fine print of the contract.
“He chose the Mets because they gave him opt-outs with a high annual thing,” Davis said. “If he stinks, he gets to stay.
If he’s good, he gets to leave and get a bigger deal. That’s why he chose the Mets, right?”
It’s a fair question in today’s free agency landscape, where contract flexibility often speaks louder than team slogans. Bichette’s deal is a three-year, $126 million contract loaded with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. That structure gives him maximum control over his future - and a chance to cash in again if he performs at an elite level.
Reports indicate that Bichette was close to signing a seven-year, $200 million deal with the Phillies before pivoting to the Mets at the eleventh hour. That’s a significant shift, and it’s understandable why some in Philly - like Davis - see the move as more business than baseball.
Still, from the Mets' perspective, they landed one of the premier infielders on the market. And for a franchise that’s spent the last few years trying to turn big spending into postseason success, Bichette could be a key piece in finally making that happen.
Whether his decision was driven more by opt-outs or October dreams, one thing is clear: Bichette’s arrival just added more fuel to an already heated NL East rivalry. And if the Mets and Phillies cross paths in the postseason again, don’t be surprised if these comments resurface - with plenty of added edge.