Bo Bichette and the New York Mets
agree to a $126 million, 3-year contract, AP source says
[January 17, 2026]
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a
$126 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the
negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the
deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been
announced.
A two-time All-Star shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette
will move to third base with the Mets, who have Francisco Lindor at
shortstop. Bichette has never played a professional game at the hot
corner.
Bichette can opt out of the deal after the first or second season to
become a free agent again. He would receive $47 million for one year
and $89 million for two years, the person said.
The deal does not contain any deferred money and Bichette gets a
full no-trade provision. His $42 million average annual value ties
for the sixth-highest in baseball history.
It was the latest big development in an eventful offseason for the
Mets, who angered fans by letting popular slugger Pete Alonso and
star closer Edwin Díaz leave in free agency. President of baseball
operations David Stearns also traded two other stalwarts, outfielder
Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown
players.
New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year
contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal
and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement.
Although he lacks Alonso's prodigious power, Bichette is a proven
hitter with lightning-fast hands and a penchant for line-drive
doubles. He would give the Mets a dangerous right-handed bat to help
complement lefty slugger Juan Soto.
Because of his inexperience at third, however, Bichette becomes the
latest question mark in the field for New York even though Stearns
has insisted the team must improve its defense and is determined to
do so.
Polanco has one pitch of major league experience at first base,
where he and Mark Vientos, previously a third baseman, are the
leading candidates to replace Alonso.
New York had planned to start Brett Baty at third, where he provides
a strong glove. Baty, who also has experience at second base, is
viewed as a versatile defender who could see time in the outfield
and perhaps at first.
Or, the Mets could look to trade Baty for pitching or outfield help.
Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien is set to play second after arriving
from Texas in a November trade for Nimmo.
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Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette celebrates his three run home run
against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 7 of
baseball's World Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP
Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Bichette batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and
an .840 OPS in 139 games for the Blue Jays last year. He homered off
Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles
Dodgers.
Late last season, Bichette sprained his left knee in a Sept. 6
collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, keeping the
infielder out of the lineup until the World Series. He returned for
Game 1 against the Dodgers and played second base for the first time
in six years.
Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022. He
finished second in the major leagues in batting average last season
to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
Bichette turned down a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Blue
Jays in November, so they would receive an extra draft pick in July
after the fourth round if he completes his deal with the Mets.
New York would forfeit its second- and fifth-highest draft picks,
along with $1 million in 2027 international signing bonus pool
allocation.
Bichette was one of the last remaining big-name hitters on the free
agent market after outfielder Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets and
agreed Thursday to a $240 million, four-year contract with the
Dodgers.
Bichette, who turns 28 in March, has spent his entire career with
the Blue Jays since they selected him in the second round of the
2016 amateur draft. He is a .294 career hitter with 111 home runs
and an .806 OPS in 748 major league games.
He is a son of former big league slugger Dante Bichette, a four-time
All-Star outfielder.
Also Friday, the Mets claimed infielder Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers
from Tampa Bay.
___
AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and David Brandt and AP Sports
Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.
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