The next move the NY Mets should make after signing Bo BIchette

The offseason took a sharp turn after the New York Mets lost out on Kyle Tucker and had to pivot. That pivot led to Bo Bichette, and for the Mets, it immediately clarified the infield picture. Shortstop was already locked in, and second base was not open either after the trade for Marcus Semien, one of the best defensive infielders in the game. That leaves one spot.

Third base is where this shows up. Brett Baty was lined up to play there, but that plan is no longer clear. Bichette’s arrival gives the Mets an everyday answer, which changes Baty’s role. The infield is now set, while the outfield still has an open hole. That combination makes Baty expendable and puts him at the center of any effort to improve the roster elsewhere.

Brett Baty gives the Mets a trade chip, and Boston makes sense

The fit with Boston is obvious once the Mets’ infield picture comes into focus. After missing out on Alex Bregman, the Red Sox are still searching for a long-term answer at third base while sitting on a surplus of outfield talent. The Mets are in the opposite position. Their infield is now full, but the outfield still needs help. That type of roster overlap usually leads to calls between front offices.

Jarren Duran has been on the Mets’ radar before. His name came up around the 2025 trade deadline when New York was searching for outfield upgrades. That interest did not lead to a deal then, but the situation has changed. With the infield set, the Mets now have a clearer path to move talent from a position of strength.

Baty’s value does not change just because he is being replaced by an All-Star caliber player. In 60 starts at third base in 2025, he provided steady defense, finishing with a +1 in OAA and a +4 in DRS. That performance put him in a position to open the season as the Mets’ starting third baseman before Bichette entered the picture.

Other teams have already zeroed in on Baty. The Marlins asked about him earlier this offseason when discussing Edward Cabrera, and the Amazins rejected that offer. With Bichette expected to handle the hot corner, Baty shifts from necessity to asset, and his profile fits what Boston is missing.

Duran fills a very real need for the Mets. He is set to make $7.7 million this season and is under team control for two more years beyond 2026. He would slide into left field and add a .256/.332/.442 line, along with 70 extra-base hits and 84 RBIs, to a lineup primed to score some runs. Boston, meanwhile, would get a controllable infielder who can defend third base right now, with the Mets able to supplement the deal using depth from one of the stronger farm systems in the game.

Baty for Duran might not complete the deal in full. However, it's certainly the start of a discussion to make between these two clubs.