Predicting what happens with the 3 NY Mets players with complicated contract futures

To say the New York Mets contract situations with some of their star players added in the offense is complicated is an insult to a relationship where a woman lives with her ex-husband even though she’s already married to a new beau. Watch enough TLC or YouTube videos and you’ll start to understand this isn’t so uncommon.

The Mets shook up the roster in the offseason and as fun as it is to have new players to watch wear our laundry, it might not be for very long. Three of their key players added this winter might be one-and-done.

What’ll happen with each of these three complicated situations?

Predicting the future for three Mets who could be gone before we know it

1) Freddy Peralta

Freddy Peralta’s situation is actually the simplest of all. He’s getting paid $8 million this year. A severe underpayment for what he can accomplish, he’s sure to look to make up for lost time financially. This doesn’t mean an extension with the Mets before hitting free agency is impossible. Other reasons, like the team’s own desire to target others or the development of young pitchers, could have them holding back from a long commitment too soon.

The prediction: Peralta becomes a free agent and signs with a desperate team that gives into something close to his demands. The World Series loser on a 7-year deal is a good guess. Don’t worry, Mets fans. David Stearns wins the Tarik Skubal bidding because Steve Cohen made him.

2) Bo Bichette

Bo Bichette is essentially getting paid $47 million by the Mets, but that can change. His 2026 salary is for $42 million with a $5 million payout if he opts out. Bichette can always choose to stay with the Mets depending on the kind of year he has. A bad year and he’s definitely returning. A mediocre one and it’s tougher to come to any sort of conclusion. Anything short of what is an average year out of Bichette should have him circling back into free agency, at worst, settling on another short-term contract.

The prediction: Bichette doesn’t have a monster year or a really bad one and either case is reasonable. He does opt out and because his defense in 2026 was so questionable from start to finish, the Mets overlook what he brought to them offensively and let him sign with another team on a longer deal.

3) Luis Robert Jr.

There’s a $20 million team option on Luis Robert Jr. for next year. It’s the same amount the Mets are paying him this season. Do they pick it up? Fans would have lined up for a Peralta extension or even a second guaranteed year of Bichette well in advance of their Mets debuts. It’s more complicated with Robert. He has underachieved in each of the last two years. This year with the Mets, with a walk-off hit in his second game of the year, he’s already showing the best of what he can offer.

The prediction: Robert has a better season than the last two, but not the All-Star campaign he had in 2023. It’s reasonable to say $20 million for him is an overpayment, but the Mets pick up the option anyway with some rumors about them shopping him around. However, with A.J. Ewing still a year away from being fully reliable as a big league center fielder, the Mets choose to keep Robert around in part because he’s plenty good and Juan Soto demands it.