The Phillies were in the driver’s seat. They’d made their pitch, put the money on the table, and had the connection - a familiar face in Don Mattingly, now their bench coach, who had spent three seasons with Bo Bichette in Toronto. Everything pointed toward Philadelphia landing one of the biggest names left on the free-agent market.
Then came the curveball.
In a stunning twist, the New York Mets swooped in late and landed Bichette with a bold, short-term deal: three years, $126 million, including opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. That’s a $42 million average annual value - a number that turned heads across the league and clearly turned Bichette’s.
According to multiple reports, the Phillies had already agreed to Bichette’s request for a seven-year, $200 million contract. That’s $28.57 million per year, with long-term security and a clear vote of confidence in his future.
But the Mets, reeling from missing out on Kyle Tucker - who ended up with the Dodgers - pivoted hard and fast. They threw a massive AAV at Bichette, and he bit.
For Phillies fans, it’s a gut punch. The team was widely viewed as the favorite to land Bichette, especially after the meeting earlier this week that seemed to cement mutual interest. The excitement had been building - not just because of Bichette’s talent, but because of what he represented: a potential missing piece for a team that’s fallen short in the NLDS two years running.
Bichette would’ve brought a dynamic right-handed presence to the top of the Phillies’ lineup. He’s a career .294 hitter, and last season was arguably his best - slashing .311/.840 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and a career-low 14.5% strikeout rate in 139 games.
He’s led the American League in hits twice, and he’s just 27. This is a player entering his prime, not exiting it.
That’s why the Mets’ aggressive move stings so much in Philly. The Phillies were willing to go long - seven years, betting on Bichette to be a cornerstone for the rest of the decade.
The Mets, instead, offered flexibility and a huge payday upfront. And in today’s game, sometimes short-term power wins out over long-term stability.
The addition of Mattingly to the Phillies’ coaching staff wasn’t just a coincidence. His relationship with Bichette was seen as a major factor in Philadelphia’s pursuit.
That connection helped turn what once felt like a long shot into a very real possibility. But in the end, it wasn’t enough.
Now, Bichette heads to Queens, where he’ll suit up for a Mets team that’s clearly not sitting quietly this offseason. And for the Phillies, it’s back to the drawing board.
This one’s going to sting for a while - not just because they missed out, but because they were so close.