The New York Mets whiffed on signing free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. However, they quickly pivoted to land another top bat in the free agent market, Bo Bichette.
On Jan. 16, ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Mets and Bichette have agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract. Moreover, the report reveals that, pending a physical, the deal includes opt-out options after the first and second seasons.
With no deferred money, the contract carries a straightforward average annual value of $42 million. The Mets now have another bat to go behind Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor in their starting lineup.
With New York scooping up Bichette, former MLB general manager Jim Duquette shared his thoughts on the Mets pivoting to grab a marquee free agent after Tucker decided to join the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Excellent move,” Duquette said on a Jan. 16 appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. “I really, really like this one. And a shorter term [deal], obviously, when it comes to the risk, there, too. But Bichette is a really good player.
“And yes, he is going to play third base, likely. And [Brett] Baty would move over to first base. And we’ll see. Baty showed the ability and the versatility to play other positions. I thought he did a stand-up job at second, doing a good job there at second base last year when they moved him there.”
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Moreover, Duquette also laid out the picture of how the Mets’ infield will look now that Bichette is in the fold. The former general manager sees lots of moving parts but doesn’t see anyone playing a role that would take a hit on New York’s defense.
“If you look at taking him at third, and then Lindor at short, [Marcus] Semien in at second, Baty, and maybe [Mark] Vientos at first, the DH spot becomes [Jorge] Polanco, or Polanco hits some mix in there at first base,” Duquette added. “That’s a good upgrade for them all the way around. And you got a nice young player.”
Mets Have Major Concern With Bo Bichette’s Arrival
The Mets’ pivot to land Bichette is also being seen as a win by Duquette. However, Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose expressed concern about putting players in new positions, as the former Toronto Blue Jays star will likely play third base, potentially creating a domino effect on where other players will play.
“Bo Bichette is one of the best bat‑to‑ball guys that still has pop,” Rose said about Bichette’s arrival to the Mets in a Jan. 16 video posted on X. “He’s going to help their lineup, puts the ball in play. He sprays it all over the yard. I dig all that. I worry about the way this team is constructed.
“It feels much more like a fantasy lineup than a reality lineup. And what I mean by that is you’ve got a bunch of good players all over the place, but Polanco, we’re asking to play first base for really the first time in his career. We’re asking Bo Bichette to play third base for the first time ever. I don’t think he had an inning in the minor leagues at third base.
“Now we might be asking Brett Baty. I know we’ve got him listed at DH on the starting lineup, but there’s a possibility he could work in the outfield. He’s a natural infielder outside of Juan Soto. I don’t feel like anything’s nailed down there in the outfield. So it feels like the pieces might be right. It feels like the Mets are accumulating the right pieces, but they’re not being placed in the right areas of the field.”
Former MLB GM Doesn’t Hold Back on Mets Signing Bo Bichette