After the 2026 season, New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette may find himself at a crossroads regarding his future.
Teams around Major League Baseball expect Bichette to opt out of the final two years of his three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Sunday. Such a move would potentially allow teams like the Philadelphia Phillies to revisit their interest in the former Toronto Blue Jays standout.
Bichette’s debut season with New York has fallen well short of expectations. Through his first year with the Mets, he owns a .236 batting average, a .644 OPS, and an 80 OPS+, a mark that places him 20% below league average offensively. His overall value has also suffered, as he has produced -0.5 bWAR, putting him below replacement level.
Financially, the decision carries risk. Bichette received a $40 million signing bonus and is earning a $2 million salary this season. The contract includes annual opt-out clauses, giving him full control over whether to remain with New York. If he exercises the clause following the season, he would collect an additional $5 million buyout, effectively turning the agreement into a one-year deal worth $47 million.
Opting out would require Bichette to walk away from the remaining $84 million on his contract, though the figure still owed is effectively $79 million after the buyout structure is considered, per Nightengale.
The opt-out mechanism was built into the contract when Bichette left the Blue Jays for the Mets, making free agency a realistic possibility after each season. The prevailing expectation was that he would walk away from the deal after a successful campaign, however, his disappointing performance has clouded the likelihood of receiving a contract matching New York’s yearly financial commitment.
Nevertheless, league executives still anticipate Bichette will proceed with the opt-out, potentially opening the door for the Phillies and other interested teams to pursue him once again this offseason.
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