PHILADELPHIA — Bo Bichette has the final say on whether he stays with the Mets past August 3 due to the no-trade provisions in his contract.
He has mentioned he’s not rushing to leave, although he did backtrack on Saturday regarding whether he would block any potential trades involving him.
“I haven’t been told anything yet, so I don’t really have an answer,” Bichette said before the Mets faced the Phillies, where they ultimately lost 6-1.
With an option to opt out of his three-year, $126 million deal at the end of the season, there’s a decent chance he’ll be traded.
The ambiguity around his status does impact his trade value.
Bichette’s performance has significantly improved over the past six weeks, which could encourage him to opt-out. Still, he believes a decision on that matter will likely come only after the season.
“I came here because I believe in the talent on this team. It’s exciting to play for an organization that aims to win,” he added. “It feels too early to decide, especially since I signed to secure more freedom in my career.”
Bichette entered the day with an .844 OPS over his last 36 games as of June 3. This is the sort of right-handed hitting that would be hard to replace if he were to leave.
The Mets have several pitchers who could be moved before the trade deadline, but many of the players they’re looking to trade are tied to hefty contracts.
When asked if the organization’s current direction would influence his decision to opt-out, Bichette stated, “There are definitely positive aspects here, yet there are some concerns too. It’s visible to everyone, but everything plays a role in the decision.”
What are those positives? Well, he mentioned, “They’ve developed a lot of young talent, which bodes well for the future. Most importantly, this is an organization that really wants to win. They don’t settle for mediocrity; they aim for a World Series title. Pair that with having promising young players, and it’s definitely a good sign.”
In addition to players like Christian Scott, the youth movement includes newcomers Nolan McLean, AJ Ewing, and Carson Benge.
Members of this group are not planning to engage in trade discussions.
Bichette began the day with a slash line of .253/.297/.372, struggling through early June.
He reflected that he hasn’t spent too much time pondering why his early success eluded him. “You can’t change what happened in the first two months,” Bichette said. “I wish I’d started better, but who knows if it would have made a difference for me or the team? There’s nothing I can do about that.”
Bichette recognizes that a Mets turnaround next season isn’t out of the question. He recalls being on a Blue Jays team that finished last in the AL East in 2024, only to reach the World Series the following year.
“We had a lot of injuries back in ’24, and I was one of them,” he recalled. “It was tough then, but we never lost hope.”
