In a bold swing that signals their intent to contend, the New York Mets have landed one of the premier bats on the free-agent market, agreeing to a three-year, $126 million deal with Bo Bichette. The contract, which includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons and no deferred money, is pending a physical.
This move comes less than a day after the Mets fell short in their pursuit of Kyle Tucker. But rather than dwell on the miss, New York pivoted quickly-and aggressively-to secure Bichette, a two-time All-Star known for his elite contact skills and consistent production at the plate.
While Bichette has spent his entire big league career as a shortstop, he’s expected to slide over to third base in Queens. That shift opens up some intriguing possibilities for the Mets’ infield alignment. Brett Baty, once penciled in as the future at third, could see more time in left field as the team looks to keep his bat in the lineup.
The Mets weren’t the only team in the mix. The Philadelphia Phillies made a strong push, reportedly meeting with Bichette via videoconference earlier this week. There was optimism from both sides following those discussions, but in the end, it’s the Mets who closed the deal.
At 27, Bichette brings a track record of offensive excellence that few can match. He’s one of the purest contact hitters in the game today, and he backs that up with a batting average that’s topped .290 in six of his first seven seasons. He led the American League in hits twice while with the Toronto Blue Jays and still finished near the top of the leaderboard in 2025-even after missing the final month of the regular season.
His glove has never been his calling card, with defensive metrics rating him as average or below at shortstop. But his bat more than makes up for it. Bichette has earned multiple All-Star nods and garnered MVP votes thanks to his offensive output, and now he’ll bring that firepower to a Mets lineup that’s looking for a spark.
Bichette’s 2025 season was a statement. After a rough 2024 that saw him hit just .225 with a negative WAR, he came into the new year with something to prove-and he delivered. He rebounded in a big way, hitting .311 with 3.5 WAR and showing up when it mattered most: October.
That postseason performance, particularly his grit in the World Series, turned heads. After spraining his right knee sliding into home at Yankee Stadium in early September, Bichette missed the first two rounds of the playoffs.
But he returned for the Fall Classic, shifting to second base on a compromised knee and delivering one of the most memorable moments of the postseason-a three-run homer in Game 7. It looked like it might be his crowning achievement until the Dodgers stormed back to take the title.
Still, that moment reminded everyone why Bichette was once viewed as a franchise cornerstone in Toronto-and why he became such a hot commodity on the open market. His free agency may have stretched into 2026, but the Mets clearly believe the wait was worth it.
Now, with Bichette in the fold and a lineup that’s starting to take shape, the Mets are sending a clear message: they’re not just building for the future-they’re aiming to win now.