The New York Mets could have a new third baseman in 2027.
Bo Bichette can opt out of the final two seasons of the three-year, $126 million contract he signed with the NL East club last offseason.
Bichette will get a $5 million buyout if he decides to test the market. He played third base for the first time in his career in 2026.
His offensive numbers weren’t up to par with the rest of his career, hitting .260/.312/.390 with 18 home runs and a 97 OPS+.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts Bichette will opt out of the deal with hopes of signing another nine-figure contract.
“However, in a year where Jazz Chisholm Jr. is arguably the second-most or third-most coveted free agent hitter available, a 28-year-old Bichette who has been worth more than 20 WAR in his career could probably fetch another nine-figure contract,” Miller wrote.
If Bichette does opt out, they could turn to top prospect Jefferson Rojas to play third base. Or, they could target Terauki Sato, who won Nippon Professional Baseball’s Triple Crown.
“Whether Sato’s glove is good enough for the hot corner is a concern that most teams will grapple with while trying to determine how much he’s worth, but, heck, the Mets signed Bichette to be their primary third baseman when he had zero professional experience at the position,” Miller added.
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New York might be able to take the risk that Sato will be a below-average defender if he can hit 30-40 home runs and drive in 100 runs.
They could also try Sato at first base, which included a revolving door of players after Pete Alonso left in free agency.
