New York Mets star infielder Bo Bichette has an opt-out clause after this season, which he can use if he wishes to test the free agent market again this offseason. If Bichette decides not to opt out of his current contract, he would maintain his $42 million average salary for next season. Due to this and his occasional struggles with consistency this season, it seemed far more likely that he would choose not to use his opt-out clause.
Yet, based on a new report, Bichette's future with the Mets could be more up in the air than originally thought. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the chance of Bichette opting out of his contract with the Mets is "a coin flip." "The trickiest decision in the free agent class. The Mets owe Bichette $84 million over the next two years.
If he opts out, he will get a $5 million buyout and hit free agency again going into his age-29 season hopeful that the mediocrity of the rest of the class makes him stand out in ways he didn't last winter," Passan wrote. "Will he opt out: Yes -- but it's genuinely a coin flip." This is certainly a concerning development for the Mets. Bichette is one of New York's best players, and they would undoubtedly be negatively impacted if he opted to test free agency again.
Bichette leaving would also hurt their chances of bouncing back from their nightmare 2026 season next year. Yet, if Bichette decided to test the market, he would immediately be the best MLB free-agent hitter available. Due to this, it could make sense for him to test free agency again, but time will tell what happens on that front.
Bichette has appeared in 144 games this season for the Mets, where he has recorded 16 home runs, 24 doubles, 73 RBI, and a .265 batting average.
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