NY Mets free agent prediction lands them Teruaki Sato but with a potential twist

It’s MLB free agency prediction time and SNY’s John Harper thinks the New York Mets are going to have a big offseason. Although they don’t get Tarik Skubal, he thinks they land Clay Holmes and Michael King. Along with them, Teruaki Sato signs with the Mets.

It’s a good outcome for the Mets that solves a couple of problems. They get two really good starters instead of the best one out there. The most shocking thing about his prediction isn’t so much that they sign Sato as much as it is the suggestion he won’t be the first baseman.

Sato has mostly been a third baseman who would presumably be asked to move to first base, and after all the problems the Mets had playing non-first basemen at the position last year, it's not a perfect fit. But his bat is worth the gamble, with a safety net of sorts in the possibility of Bo Bichette moving to first if necessary. - John Harper, SNY

Wait…so Sato plays third base and Bichette goes to first base? Is this feasible?

Bo Bichette moving to first base might not be so outlandish for the Mets if they sign Teruaki Sato

A weakness which continued for Bichette defensively was his arm. The 35th percentile ranking with his arm this past season didn’t hinder from putting up otherwise favorable defensive numbers. Worth 1 OAA at third base, the question for the Mets becomes whether he or Sato is more useful at the position.

After all of the work the Mets put into Bichette, moving him across the diamond for a year (maybe two) might seem wasteful, but if it actually improves the team, why not? He wasn’t exceptional. Sato’s arm, meanwhile, is strong and could even have teams considering him for an outfield job. He has already played the outfield plenty in Japan with over 250 games. Not a candidate to play the outfield for the Mets, it wouldn’t be beyond reason to see another team plug him into a spot. The Philadelphia Phillies are one team who has been a rumored option to put him in at right field.

Regardless of who moves to first base, the same circumstances exist. Jared Young’s role is reduced. Someone has to learn first base with no experience. They could always flip them back, too. If Bichette ended up at first base and Sato at third base, nothing in the rules tells us they aren’t allowed to do the opposite.

If the Mets sign Sato, it probably does make more sense to try him at first base first simply because the Mets appear to have up-and-coming prospects for the hot corner and no one significant at first base just yet. Sato is getting a long-term deal. Find a long-term solution at first base. Bichette will be here for two years at the most. Let him warm up third base for Jefferson Rojas or whomever it is they end up at the position. Unless the Mets are moving Juan Soto to first base anytime soon, they should look for a solution sooner rather than later.

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