1 boring, 1 bold, and 1 blockbuster NY Mets replacement if Bo Bichette opts out

Jeff Passan called Bo Bichette’s New York Mets future a “coin flip.” Unless you’re talking to Penn and Teller who have surely dabbled with the idea of a double-headed coin, Passan is calling it a 50/50 shot he opts into his deal with the Mets.

What alternatives are there for the Mets if he does opt-out? Eliminating the idea of re-signing him from the equation, as realistic as it could be even if he is seeking 4+ years, we can find a boring, a bold, and a blockbuster idea to find a solution at third base for at least a season.

How the Mets can replace Bo Bichette if he opts out

The boring idea: Brett Baty and the prospects

There aren’t any real third base prospects in the Mets system who could conceivably get a large share of the third base duties immediately next year. A guy like Billy Amick is more of a first baseman. Emilien Pitre is an option, but also probably more of a second baseman. Internally, the choices are boring. Brett Baty is it and the problem there is it would feel like the Mets are taking a step backward.

Baty has yet to prove he deserves a starting job in the major leagues despite multiple years of trying. If the league had a 10th Man of the Year Award, he might not even be a finalist. It won’t be a crime to keep him around. As the starting third baseman, it would feel as if the Mets didn’t give it their best effort.

The bold idea: A trade for Isaac Paredes

Isaac Paredes is definitely not the kind of third base choice we’d expect a David Stearns-run team to target too heavily. His defense isn’t great although this year it has measured pretty well. In a rather shallow class of third basemen, his offense is right there among the best. He’ll turn 28 early next year and with only a $13.35 million team option for 2027, the Houston Astros could look to trade him before reaching free agency. There was speculation they would need to move him or another infielder before the season began. Due to injuries, they’ve made some things work.

The Astros are actually a good match for the Mets for a couple of trade candidates. First baseman Christian Walker doesn’t solve the absence of Bichette. Jake Meyers does feel like a candidate to give the outfield some depth. Yordan Alvarez is a dream we don’t want to wake up from. Paredes might be the most practical of all with an OPS this season approaching the .800 mark.

The blockbuster idea: A trade with the Giants

There are a lot of San Francisco Giants players who could end up at third base for the Mets. Rafael Devers definitely wouldn’t revert back to the hot corner. Third baseman Matt Chapman as well as shortstop Willy Adames are the duo who’d fill the Bichette absence. But to make this a real blockbuster, it can’t merely be a salary dump or a one-for-one. The Mets need to wonder if they’re actually better long-term by acquiring any of these players. Dream up whatever major transaction you want. 

Adames or Chapman in a deal that also has the Mets relieving themselves of Marcus Semien would be incredibly satisfying. Sure, they traded Brandon Nimmo to take on the shorter contract only to then trade away Semien for another longer contract. In terms of fit, Adames and Chapman seem to fit the Mets better based on the minor league system. Chapman, with four years left on his deal and about $6 million less per season than Adames, could end up as the better buy. Consulting with Kai Correa does no good. He was out of San Francisco by the time either of those players joined.

Bichette’s decision will be the first to direct the Mets where to go. Do they go boring, bold, or with a blockbuster? Free agency isn’t

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