Bo Bichette, a prominent free-agent infielder, has agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets, a move that dashes the Philadelphia Phillies' hopes of acquiring him. The Phillies had reportedly been leading the race for Bichette, even believing they had a deal in place for a seven-year, $200 million contract until the Mets intervened with their offer. Bichette, who will turn 28 before the 2026 season, had a strong performance for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, batting .311 with 18 home runs and 44 doubles. He also demonstrated resilience by returning from a knee injury to hit .348 in the World Series against the eventual champion Dodgers.
Bichette's arrival in New York is seen as a direct replacement for Pete Alonso, who departed for Baltimore in free agency. This signing comes after the Mets reportedly missed out on outfielder Kyle Tucker, who joined the Dodgers. For the Phillies, losing out on Bichette means they are less likely to move third baseman Alec Bohm and have more financial flexibility to potentially re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto. Initially, the Phillies might have considered letting Realmuto go to secure Bichette, but now, with Bichette off the market, Realmuto is viewed as a consolation prize. In an update, Realmuto has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with the Phillies.