Bo Bichette and the New York Mets completed their three-year, $126 million agreement on Tuesday evening. The deal was initially reached last week, pending a successful physical exam. Opting for the Mets over the Philadelphia Phillies, Bichette was formally introduced by the team at a press conference held at Citi Field on Wednesday.
As part of the deal, Bichette will receive a $40 million signing bonus due on March 15, a $2 million salary for this year, and $42 million player options for 2027 and 2028. In the event he declines either option, a $5 million buyout will be paid out in $1 million increments annually from 2036 to 2040.
Transitioning from his established role as a two-time all-star shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette will now take on the position of third base for the Mets, joining Francisco Lindor, who remains at shortstop. Despite lacking experience at the hot corner, Bichette’s exceptional right-handed hitting prowess was hailed by Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, who emphasized Bichette’s elite batting skills and power that are expected to bolster the team’s lineup.
Shortly after finalizing Bichette’s signing, the Mets made a significant move by acquiring center-fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuna and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley. Bichette secured a full no-trade clause in his contract, which features an average annual value of $42 million, ranking among the top six in baseball history.
Bichette’s arrival and the addition of Robert mark the latest major developments in the Mets’ dynamic off-season, which saw the departure of key players like Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz in free agency, a decision that stirred fan discontent. The team also bid farewell to outfielder Brandon Nimmo and veteran Jeff McNeil through trades.
In addition to Bichette and Robert, the Mets bolstered their roster by signing closer Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal, infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract, and reliever Luke Weaver to a two-year, $22 million agreement.
Boasting a potent hitting ability though not matching Alonso’s power, Bichette brings a proven track record at the plate to the Mets, providing a right-handed complement to lefty slugger Juan Soto. However, his lack of experience at third base raises questions about the team’s defensive capabilities, an area Stearns has emphasized as needing improvement.
Bichette’s impressive performance with the Blue Jays in the previous season, including a batting average of .311, 18 home runs, 94 runs batted in, and an .840 on-base-plus-slugging percentage over 139 games, solidifies his value to the Mets. Noteworthy was his three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Having declined a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Blue Jays, Bichette’s move to the Mets will see Toronto receiving an additional draft pick after the fourth round in July. Meanwhile, the Mets will forfeit their second- and fifth-highest draft picks and $1 million in 2027 international signing bonus pool allocation.
With a career spanning 748 major league games, Bichette, who will turn 28 in March, has consistently performed well, boasting a .294 batting average, 111 home runs, and an .806 OPS. Notably, he follows in the footsteps of his father, former MLB star Dante Bichette, a four-time all-star outfielder.