Bo Bichette’s first season with the Mets hasn’t gone how anyone probably envisioned, but the former Blue Jays all-star apparently is ready to stick with it in New York despite having an opt-out in his massive contract.
Bichette, who signed a three-year, $126-million contract with the NL East squad earlier this year, has posted some of the worst numbers of his career at the plate this season.
His .263 batting average is the second-lowest in Bichette’s career — his worst was during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. He’s also on track to record career lows in hits, doubles and home runs in seasons during which he played more than 81 games.
And, after playing nearly his entire Blue Jays career at shortstop, Bichette has most of the 2026 season manning third base at Citi Field.
Why is a position change a big deal?
While Bichette reportedly had been reluctant to swap positions in Toronto – he made just five appearances at second base over his seven years with the Jays, all coming during the 2025 playoffs – that doesn’t seem to be an issue in New York.
“I would be willing to do whatever,” Bichette told the New York Post’s Mike Puma in reference to a position change.
Through Sunday’s games, Bichette has made 107 appearances at third base compared to 47 at shortstop.
His defence — often a sore spot for Jays fans who believed Bichette to be subpar in that area — also has been better at the hot corner than short this year.
He has been charged with five errors at each spot, but has played roughly 500 more innings at third and his fielding percentage is 13 points higher (.976-.963).
However, Puma also noted that “Bichette isn’t saying yet whether he plans on returning to the Mets next season,” while adding that “mainly, he’s open to a position change if he’s back with the team.”
Does Bo Bichette still talk to former Jays teammates?
So while whether or not Bichette opts to stay in New York remains in question, it’s not all that certain how close his ties to Toronto remain.
In an interview with Tyler Boronski, which took place earlier this month, Bichette admitted that he doesn’t talk to his ex-Jays mates all that often.
“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.”
What happened with Bichette last week?
Just last week, Bichette was involved in what has been dubbed the “billion-dollar blooper” after he and two other high-priced teammates let a routine fly ball fall between them.
During the top of the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Christian Encarnacion-Strand lofted a lazy fly ball to left field against Mets starter Xzavion Curry. Bichette, shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Juan Soto all converged on where the ball was headed — and then disaster struck.
Bichette, who was ranging backwards while tracking the ball, ducked out of the way while Lindor and Soto stopped in their tracks. The ball fell to the ground, bouncing high in the air before Soto corralled it amidst boos from the home fans.
ESPN announcer Kevin Brown was on the call and didn’t mince words, calling out the trio of high-priced Mets over the amateurish error.
“The ball will drop,” Brown said in shock. “Lindor, Bichette and Soto, about a billion dollars’ worth of Mets out in left field and none of ’em could pick it up.”
Brown’s quick math actually short-changed the value of Mets players in the vicinity of the embarrassing incident. With Bichette making a total of $126 million US over three years, Lindor earning $341 million over 10 years and Soto raking in a mind-blowing $765 million over his 15-year deal, the total amount for the trio comes to $1.23 billion. On a yearly basis, the three earn $127 million.