NY Mets rumors of Bo Bichette opting out are delightful even with no clear 3B answer

Back in mid-May, Bo Bichette claimed he signed with the New York Mets intending to stay all three years. It was a very “what else is he going to say?” kind of claim. We believed it because at the time he was trending toward becoming one of the worst Mets free agent signings in team history both statistically and based on the expectations.

You don’t get $42 million plus another $5 million to opt out because you’re a nice guy. Bichette was meant to be protection in front of or behind Juan Soto while competing for a batting title and doing all sorts of other things. The bold idea of moving him from shortstop to third base was going well until the team lost Francisco Lindor, moving him back to shortstop where he hasn’t played fantastic, but also isn’t losing the Mets games.

In either case, to see Bob Nightengale’s latest Mets rumors say Bichette is expected to opt out comes as a bit of a surprise. His two-homer game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves and recent improvement won’t have too many teams swarming to sign him for more than what he’d get out of the Mets if he stays. It’s a questionable call for him, but a delightfully satisfying one for Mets fans at the moment even without a clear answer at third base in a post-Bichette world.

Bo Bichette leaving the Mets this offseason puts them back to square one at third base

Brett Baty has played well at the hot corner, but his bat should never go higher than eighth in a competitive lineup. The Mets are a team that will choose defense over offense up the middle. At a corner spot like third base, they can’t get away with more Baty hitting for little power and flirting with a .230 batting average.

Down on the farm, the Mets do have Jacob Reimer but he’s at least another year away. He might even be better equipped to convert to first base full-time. Free agency offers few solutions. Next year’s class at third base after Bichette includes Eugenio Suarez, Alec Bohm, and Yoan Moncada.

Converting another player from one position to third base is always another possibility. The shortstop class isn’t grand either. J.P. Crawford might be the best, unless of course Bichette markets himself to play the position yet again.

Maybe this is the real key to these Mets rumors about Bichette being one-and-done with New York. Shortstop-needy teams could always lock him up to play the position for a year or two until maybe a top prospect is ready. At that point, moving third base is a possibility.

We know the Philadelphia Phillies had strong interest in signing Bichette this offseason and believed they would land him. Could they go with a smaller AAV over a longer period of time? The New York Yankees might not be a terrible match either with the left side of their infield lighting up the phone lines on WFAN regularly.

How does it work out with Bo Bichette?

My guess is we get a back-and-forth for the rest of the year when it comes to Bichette’s future. Performing better of late, there is a case albeit minor that could have Nightengale’s report coming true. Another prolonged slump and we better get used to him. Much better lately than he was at the start of the year, it’s not so bad until it starts to prevent them from making other moves.

Oddly, the Mets and Bichette remain a good match to continue their relationship regardless of how the year finishes. He'd be an automatic rebound candidate. Any deal he'd sign in the offseason would realistically have a small payday in year one with a team banking on better days immediately ahead. On the right side of 30, there will be a market even in uncertain times with the CBT negotiations likely robbing us of a typical offseason.

If Bichette does opt out, we probably shouldn't expect the Mets to circle back. It's not vindictive on either side's behalf. It just seems like after the way David Stearns dismantled the Mets before he'd probably want to try something different again.

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