When the Toronto Blue Jays decided to move on from star shortstop Bo Bichette, some folks were scratching their heads, big time. He then inked a whopping $126 million, three-year deal with the New York Mets, which also included two player options after each season. It sounded like a no-brainer for Bichette, who was asking for a lot of cash, and the Blue Jays just weren’t willing to pay up.
The Contract’s Harsh Reality Check
Now, though, early returns are hinting that the Blue Jays might have played this one perfectly. A new report is making waves: if Bichette actually opts out of his Mets deal, he’s unlikely to even sniff a contract bigger than his current $42 million average annual value. That’s a huge shift from what we heard when he signed that monster deal, right? Anthony DiComo didn’t pull any punches, laying it out like this: “If he opts out, Bichette will find it impossible to eclipse his current deal’s $42 million average annual value. Even if he does wish to opt out for non-financial reasons, Bichette can still do so a year from now at age 29, presumably off a better platform season. For all those reasons, he is likely to stay. Bichette’s decision is due five days after the World Series ends.”
Bichette’s Performance and Future
It’s always tough to gauge these massive deals, especially for a guy like Bichette who has absolutely raked in the past. He’s led the American League in hits twice and has been one of the better offensive infielders in baseball for a long stretch, no doubt about it. But the report also points to “other problems as a player” that became pretty clear this past season in New York. What does that mean for his big decision? The guy’s got a choice coming five days after the World Series wraps up.
While he could opt out next year at 29, maybe after a stronger season, the money side of things is probably going to keep him put. The Mets and Bichette have a huge decision looming, and it really looks like the Blue Jays might be feeling pretty good about their gamble.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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