The Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up for Opening Day, and their first test of the 2026 season won’t be a soft landing. They’ll be heading into Citi Field to take on a New York Mets team that just made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason-landing Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126 million deal.
That’s right. The Mets didn’t just add a bat-they added that bat.
Bichette, who’s been a cornerstone for the Blue Jays in recent years, brings a potent mix of power, contact, and postseason experience to a Mets lineup that’s clearly going all-in. According to reports, the deal includes two opt-outs and is pending a physical.
But assuming all goes through, Bichette will be suiting up in Queens when the season opens.
And he won’t be alone. The Mets also brought in Marcus Semien earlier this offseason in a move that signaled their intent to overhaul the infield.
With Semien expected to slot in at second base, Bichette is reportedly headed to third. That bumps Brett Baty-who quietly put together a solid 2025 campaign with 18 homers and 50 RBIs-into a more uncertain role.
Baty missed the final week of last season with an oblique injury, so the timing of this shakeup adds another layer to the Mets’ evolving infield picture.
But let’s not forget the other side of this Opening Day matchup. If Bichette is stepping into the spotlight for the Mets, he’ll be greeted by one of the most electric young arms in the game: Paul Skenes.
Skenes, fresh off a Cy Young season, is expected to take the ball for the Pirates on Opening Day. And if his 2025 was any indication, he’s only scratching the surface. The right-hander dominated hitters with a mix of high-octane fastballs and surgical command, and he’s already being talked about as one of the faces of the next generation of pitching.
So, Opening Day is shaping up to be more than just a curtain-raiser-it’s a heavyweight bout. A marquee debut for Bichette in a Mets uniform.
A statement opportunity for Skenes to remind everyone who owns the mound. And for the Pirates, a chance to play spoiler against a reloaded Mets squad that’s clearly aiming to make noise in the National League.
With big-money deals like Bichette’s and Kyle Tucker’s with the Dodgers hitting the books, the offseason is starting to feel like a distant memory. Baseball’s back, and it’s coming in hot.