When New York’s talks with Bo Bichette began

The The New York Mets have agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract with infielder Bo Bichet on friday morning a business that carries an average annual value of $42 milliontied for the sixth-highest AAV in Major League Baseball history. The contract includes an opt-out after each of the first two seasons and contains no deferred money.

But when exactly did New York’s conversation with Bichette begin? The Mets’ interest in Bichet didn’t become public until late in the offseason, but behind the scenes, talks had been ongoing for some time.

New York’s first talks with Bichet began at meetings of the general directoraccording to Will Semon and Tim Britton of The Athletic. While the Mets were heavily involved in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, they were making parallel preparations. That foundation paid off when Tucker agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Within about 14 hours of losing to Tucker, New York finalized the deal with Bichet.

The urgency accelerated earlier this week when the Mets met directly with Bichet, unsure of their position with Tucker. Once Tucker made his decision, talks between New York and Bichette immediately intensified. The Mets were able to advance quickly thanks to manager Carlos Mendoza’s longstanding relationship with the Bichette family, which was established during his time managing Bichette’s brother in the minor leagues.

The Philadelphia Phillies, who were one of the teams chasing Bichet, believed they had secured the 27-year-old on Thursday night after agreeing to his request for a seven-year, $200 million contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Bichette ultimately chose a short-term, high-value structure in New York over a longer commitment. The Mets’ three-year, $126 million offer changed the market overnight and lured Bichet away from their National League East rivals.

On the field, New York looks to Bichet as a center bat. He owns a career slash line of .294/.337/.469 and has never hit less than .290 in a full season. During the 2025 regular season, he hit .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs. His batting average alone would lead the Mets by 39 points. Bichet was one of Toronto’s most impressive players during the World Series, hitting .348 with one home run and six RBIs in the seven-game streak.

Defensively, this move comes with risk. Despite the fact that Bichet only played as a show stopper and a designated striker at first division level, is expected to open the season at third base. Scouts have questioned his arm strength, though evaluators believe his hands and work ethic give him a chance to adjust. The Mets are confident their coaching staff can support the transition.

A two-time All-Star in 2021 and 2023, Bichet was also a National League shortstop in back-to-back seasons from 2021 to 2022. In addition to performance, New York identified Bichet as a valued presence in the clubhouse, an important factor for a team that finished 83–79 in 2025 and missed the playoffs.