Bo Bichette Leaves Blue Jays For Surprise Lucrative Deal With Mets

After losing their Core Four to trades and free agency, the New York Mets were determined to make at least one big splash in the free-agent pool.

They succeeded Friday by signing erstwhile Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette, known more for his bat than his glove and coveted by the arch-rival Philadelphia Phillies. He got a three-year, $126 million deal less than a day after fellow free agent Kyle Tucker rejected a larger and longer Mets offer to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bichette, who turns 28 during spring training, had spent his entire seven-year career with the Blue Jays, hitting a solid .294 and hitting at least two-dozen homers twice.

Hot Pursuit

A 5’11” right-handed hitter, Bichette had numerous suitors in free agency and met with the Phils just a few days ago. His signing with the Mets was a surprise since New York had been more closely linked to Cody Bellinger, another free agent slugger.

The move was also an eyebrow-raiser because the Mets were already overstocked in the infield, where shortstop Francisco Lindor is an All-Star coming off a 30/30 season, slick-fielding newcomer Marcus Semien is his new double-play partner, and free agent signee Jorge Polanco just joined the team as a likely replacement for first baseman Pete Alonso, who signed with Baltimore.

Before the Bichette signing, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio had been expected to vie from playing time. All can play multiple positions but – barring injury – are now blocked by experienced veterans. Another infielder, Jeff McNeil, was traded to Kansas City. The Mets also lost closer Edwin Diaz, who joined the Dodgers as a free agent.

Strictly a shortstop and twice an All-Star with Toronto, Bichette not only moves to a new league – where his father Dante once starred with Colorado – but also a new position.

First at Third

He’s ticketed for third base, where Baty was the primarily player for the Mets last year, and brings a much-needed right-handed bat to a lineup that tilted heavily to the left side in 2025.

He’ll likely bat cleanup, following Lindor, Juan Soto, and newly-acquired second baseman Marcus Semien at the top of the batting order.

The Bichette signing does not close the door on free-agent activity by the Mets, who could still sign Bellinger or left-handed starter Framber Valdez, the best pitcher still in free-agent limbo.

Plagued by pitching problems last season, New York could also enter the trade market, with Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta arguably the best of a half-dozen available arms.

President of baseball operations David Stearns, once a strong advocate of improving his team’s defense, still has to find two outfielders to play alongside Soto and hope his infield corners are capable with Polanco, moving from second base to first, and Bichette, switching from short to third. Neither veteran has any experience at his new position.

In addition, the up-and-coming Baty may move to left field, where the traded Brandon Nimmo spent last summer. Bellinger, whom the Yankees hope to retain, could play center if he jumps to Queens.

Second Choice

Bichette, a contact hitter who twice led the American League in hits, became a Mets target only after they lost Tucker to the Dodgers in a spirited bidding war that also included the Blue Jays. His $126 million New York contract contains opt-out clauses after the first two years but no deferred dollars. The deal becomes official once he passes a physical.

A Florida native, Bichette had been rated the second-best free agent of the 2025-26 class, with only Tucker ahead of him. He might have topped the list had he not been downgraded by defensive play that is widely considered no better than average.

Bichette suffered a knee injury in September that sidelined him for the first two rounds of Toronto’s journey through the playoffs but he returned in time to smack a three-run homer in the World Series Game 7, won by the Dodgers in 11 innings.