Bo Bichette, an infielder with the New York Mets, may have to make a decision on his future after the 2026 season.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today on Sunday, teams in Major League Baseball anticipate that Bichette will choose to opt out of the last two years of his three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets. Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies might be able to reconsider their interest in the former Toronto Blue Jays star with such a move.
Bichette’s first season in New York has not lived up to the hype. He is 20% below the league average offensively through his debut season with the Mets, with a batting average of.236, an OPS of.644, and an OPS+ of 80. Due to his -0.5 bWAR production, which is below replacement level, his overall worth has also decreased.
The choice is risky financially. Bichette is paid $2 million this season in addition to a $40 million signing bonus. He has complete power over whether to stay with New York thanks to the contract’s annual opt-out terms. He would receive an extra $5 million buyout if he exercised the provision after the season, ultimately making the deal worth $47 million for a single year.
Bichette would have to give up the remaining $84 million on his deal if he opted out, but according to Nightengale, the amount still owed is essentially $79 million after the buyout mechanism is taken into account.
When Bichette moved from the Blue Jays to the Mets, the deal included an opt-out clause that made free agency a feasible option following each season. After a good campaign, it was widely anticipated that he would back out of the agreement; however, his underwhelming performance has cast doubt on the possibility of getting a contract that would equal New York’s annual financial commitment.
However, league insiders still expect Bichette to opt out, which may allow the Phillies and other interested teams to try to sign him this winter.
