Bo Bichette’s Move to the Mets Creates Infield Logjam - and a Golden Opportunity for the Padres
Bo Bichette at third base. Jorge Polanco at first.
On the same team. Yeah, that wasn’t on anyone’s offseason bingo card - but here we are.
The Mets landed Bichette on a three-year, $126 million deal with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, and the early plan is to slot him in at third base next to Francisco Lindor. That’s a bold shift for a player who’s been a shortstop his whole career, but it also signals a bigger storyline: the Mets now have a full-blown infield traffic jam. And for a team like the Padres, that’s the kind of situation you circle in red ink.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Dodgers kicked off the winter chaos by swooping in and grabbing Kyle Tucker, leaving the Blue Jays and Mets scrambling.
The Mets responded by outmaneuvering the Phillies for Bichette. And now, New York has an infield bursting at the seams - with no clear path to regular at-bats for everyone.
That’s where San Diego comes in.
Mets’ Infield Depth Is the Padres’ Trade Window
The Mets now have around eight playable infielders and not nearly enough innings to go around. And no, they’re not about to stick Brett Baty or Mark Vientos in left field and hope nobody notices.
Something’s got to give. That something could be a trade, and the Padres - still in search of a more stable first base solution and some lineup flexibility - should be on the phone.
Let’s break down three players who could shake loose from the Mets’ roster crunch - and why they make sense for San Diego.
Mark Vientos (1B/DH)
2025 stats: 121 games, .233 AVG, 17 HR, 61 RBI
Vientos’ numbers don’t jump off the page, but this is the kind of player who screams “change-of-scenery breakout.” The raw power is real - he’s got the kind of thump that can punish mistakes, and Petco Park needs more of that in the middle of the order.
He’s not a finished product, but the Padres don’t need him to be. They need a right-handed bat who can play first base or DH, and Vientos fits that mold.
With the Mets potentially leaning on Polanco and Vientos to split time at first, there’s no guarantee Vientos sees consistent at-bats. That’s a window for San Diego to slide in.
Brett Baty (3B/2B)
2025 stats: 130 games, .254 AVG, 18 HR, 50 RBI
Statcast metrics: 90.7 mph avg exit velocity, 12.8% barrel rate
Baty’s not on the block because he failed - he’s on the block because he’s blocked. With Bichette shifting to third, Baty suddenly becomes the odd man out. And that’s a gift for teams paying attention.
He’s still just scratching the surface, but the underlying numbers tell the story of a hitter who’s figuring it out. The barrel rate is strong, the contact quality is there, and he’s shown he can handle both third and second base. For a Padres team that could use another left-handed bat with some pop and positional flexibility, Baty checks a lot of boxes.
Luisangel Acuña (UTIL)
2025 stats: 95 games, .234/.293/.274 slash line, .567 OPS, 16 SB
Acuña isn’t going to anchor a lineup right now, but he brings speed, athleticism, and defensive versatility - three things the Padres could use more of. He’s still developing offensively, but his ability to move around the diamond and create havoc on the basepaths makes him a valuable depth piece, especially in a league that’s placing more value on speed and defense again.
If San Diego is looking to build a more dynamic bench or add a spark plug utility guy, Acuña fits the bill.
The Padres’ Pitching Depth Could Be the Key
Here’s the thing: the Mets don’t have to trade anyone - but they can’t keep everyone happy either. Adding Bichette was a win-now move, but it also created a roster imbalance that savvy front offices can exploit.
The Padres have something the Mets might want: pitching. Whether it’s a controllable arm or bullpen depth, San Diego has the kind of assets that can grease the wheels on a deal. And if they’re willing to part with real value, they could land a player who helps them right away - without having to overpay in a thin free-agent market.
This is where great front offices earn their stripes. The Mets are busy celebrating their latest star signing. The Padres should be busy figuring out how to turn that celebration into a trade that fills a need.
There’s a logjam in New York. San Diego just needs to be ready to pounce.