The Mets have scored two significant advantages by signing Bo Bichette. First, they’ve added a two-time All-Star to their roster. Second, they seemingly snatched him away from their divisional rival.
Throughout the offseason, the Phillies were often viewed as the top contenders to land Bichette when he became a free agent.
Recently, Jon Heyman reported that a meeting took place between the Phillies and Bichette, emphasizing a strong mutual interest. Just the other night, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale mentioned that the Phillies were likely the frontrunners for him, with Bichette stating that both the Yankees and Mets would be competing for outfielder Cody Bellinger.
Interestingly, less than 12 hours later, the Mets turned the tables by securing Bichette with a three-year, $126 million contract that includes an opt-out after two years. This deal caught the Phillies by surprise, as it was quite unexpected.
The Phillies seemingly believed they were close to finalizing a seven-year, $200 million contract with Bichette when the Mets swooped in with their offer, especially after having lost out on Kyle Tucker, who had signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers just the night before. Nightengale noted that the Mets had offered Tucker a four-year contract worth $220 million, with significant payments in the initial season. After missing out on Bichette, the Phillies quickly shifted gears, securing catcher JT Realmuto with a three-year, $45 million agreement.
