Bo Bichette had one of the worst seasons of his career and the Mets finished dead last in the NL East despite having one of the biggest payrolls in baseball.
So why is the former Blue Jays all-star sticking around in New York for at least another season after reports that he will be picking up his option for 2027?
There probably are at least 42 million reasons why.
Bichette signed a three-year, $126-million US deal with the Mets last off-season, leaving Toronto after spending the first seven years of his career with the Blue Jays.
But that contract actually could be more accurately summed up as a series of three, one-year deals at $42-million each, as Bichette has player options for both the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Why is Bichette sticking with the Mets?
A looming potential baseball work stoppage as MLB and the Players Association battle over a potential salary cap as the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in December only complicates matters.
But it’s likely safe to say that Bichette wasn’t going to command a better contract on the open market this winter.
The infielder posted a batting average of .260 during his first season in New York, which was his worst mark excluding his injury-riddled 2024 campaign.
His 166 hits were his fewest in a full MLB season, while his 18 home runs may have equalled his 2025 total, but it took 21 more games this year to hit that total.
Last month, Bichette opened up about his future with the Mets, saying that he’d be open to a full-time position change. The two-time all-star played the majority of the season at third base in New York after spending his entire Jays career playing shortstop,
Does Bo Bichette still talk to former Jays teammates?
Bichette also admitted that he doesn’t talk to his ex-Jays mates all that often.
In an interview with Tyler Boronski, Bichette opened up about his relationships with his former teammates.
“Honestly, not much, not much,” Bichette said when asked how much communication he has with his former comrades. “I’ve probably had occasional conversations here and there. I think that kind of stuff happens more in the off-season.”
Bichette did add that the grind of the MLB schedule makes it harder to stay in touch.
“We’re all super busy trying to do the hardest sport in the world every day,” he said, also making it clear there aren’t any hard feelings.
“A ton of love for them, but not a whole lot of conversation.”
Will other fan favourites return to Toronto?
So while Blue Jays fans won’t be holding their breath over a potential reunion with Bichette, a couple of other favourites will be up for grabs this off-season.
However, those hoping to see Kevin Gausman return to Toronto might be in for a letdown.
The much-loved starting pitcher reportedly has put his house in Toronto on the market months after being traded to the Chicago Cubs.
The 5,000-foot Lawrence Park mansion reportedly owned by the Gausmans has been listed with Harvey Kalles Real Estate for $6,885,000.
Outfielder George Springer, another Blue Jays free agent this off-season, also sold his house in Toronto earlier this year. His 6-year, $150-million contract came to an end and his baseball future remains unclear.