The New York Mets finally made a big splash on Friday, signing free agent shortstop Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract. The deal is pending physical and includes opt-out clauses after both the first and second seasons. Moreover, the contract does not include any deferred money, and it also has a full no-trade clause.
After signing Bichette, MLB analyst Trevor Plouffe thinks the Mets want to be right there with the Dodgers, and it will require them to trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who is projected to earn a contract of $400 million when he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season.
“They were not going to sit around and let the Dodgers just go and run away with it. This is a big, big start here,” Plouffe said on Talkin’ Baseball. “Now, I do think this still lends itself to the question: what do we have with the young pitching? Are we going to trade from that? Are we going to go try to get a Tarik Skubal?”
Plouffe also mentioned the reason why he thinks the Mets will go after Skubal.
“Because when you make a bet like this, a short-term deal with opt-outs and a full no-trade clause, it means that you’re trying to capitalize on some sort of window, doesn’t it?” Plouffe said. “They’re going after Skubal. They have to be going after Skubal. My mind went right there as soon as I heard the news.”
The Mets need help with their rotation and the Tigers are expected to trade Skubal, knowing the left-hander will become free agent after the 2026 season.
How Bo Bichette Will Fit With Mets?
After failing to sign Kyle Tucker, who agreed to a massive four-year, $240 million contract with the LA Dodgers, the Mets made a pivot to Bo Bichette on a short-term, high AAV deal.
Bichette has played all his years in MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays, going to the World Series last season. He played as a shortstop there, but with the Mets, he is expected to move to third base, since Francisco Lindor has the SS position to himself, and the team traded for second baseman Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers. Moreover, Brett Brady, who appeared to be the Mets’ third baseman before this signing, might be shifted to become a utility piece or be traded.
In Bichette, the Mets receive a powerful right-handed bat and elite contact skills. His production might fill the production gap left by Pete Alonso, who signed a five-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
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