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After losing both Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz in free agency, the New York Mets made a big move on Friday, signing Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal. Bichette had one of the most memorable swings of the 2025 World Series.
The signing is a major course correction after a heartbreaking 2025 season. Despite a 45-24 start that gave them the best record in baseball in June, the Mets collapsed in the second half, finishing 83-79 and missing the postseason. With Bichette in the fold, David Stearns has assembled one of the league’s most formidable infields. Bichette — coming off a bounce-back year hitting .311 and nearly carrying the Blue Jays to a title with his Game 7 heroics — will slot in alongside Francisco Lindor to form a defensive and offensive core up the middle.
By pairing Bichette’s elite bat-to-ball skills with Juan Soto’s discipline and Lindor’s veteran leadership, the Mets are betting this new core can replace the production of their all-time home run leader. After a year defined by “what could have been,” New York is aiming for a 2026 season that delivers more than just regular-season streaks.
Here’s a look at where Bichette fits in the Mets lineup.
MORE: Bo Bichette Mets contract details
Mets lineup projection
| Order | Player | Position |
| 1 | Francisco Lindor | SS |
| 2 | Juan Soto | RF |
| 3 | Bo Bichette | 3B |
| 4 | Jorge Polanco | 1B |
| 5 | Marcus Semien | 2B |
| 6 | Mark Vientos / Brett Baty | DH |
| 7 | Francisco Alvarez | C |
| 8 | Tyrone Taylor | CF |
| 9 | Carson Benge | LF |
The addition of Bichette slots him into the top of the lineup in Queens. While a lot is yet to be determined — especially who will play where in the infield — the Mets have added some offensive firepower with the addition of Bichette.
Your newest New York Met: pic.twitter.com/FkhGMz2MYA
— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) January 16, 2026Bichette is coming off a bounce-back 2025 campaign. After an injury-plagued 2024, he reminded the league of his elite bat-to-ball skills by slashing .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, nearly leading the American League in hits for the third time in five years.
His offensive profile is defined by an aggressive, all-fields approach — he ranked near the top of the majors in opposite-field hit percentage. By adding a career .294 hitter who consistently puts the ball in play and punishes mistakes, the Mets have effectively replaced Alonso with a high-average weapon that should thrive batting behind Lindor and Soto.
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What position will Bo Bichette play for Mets?
Bichette can play a variety of positions with the Mets, but the one he won't be playing is his main position, shortstop, which is occupied by Lindor.
Initial expectations see Bichette playing third for New York. The move to the hot corner is necessitated by the fact that the Mets also traded for veteran gold-glove winner Marcus Semien earlier this winter to handle second base.
From a Mets official on Bichette:
He will play 3B
Very rare to be able to get premium player like this on short term deal
RHH continues to balance lineup
Elite clubhouse presence and competitor. Exactly the type of guy we want on our team.
Furthermore, with the signing of Jorge Polanco, the Mets' infield configuration is shifting significantly; Polanco is expected to play first base and serve as a designated hitter, essentially serving as the primary replacement for Pete Alonso. This new-look veteran infield leaves young players like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos competing for at-bats in a suddenly crowded New York roster.
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Bo Bichette contract details
Bichette and the Mets have agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract. The deal is structured to provide significant flexibility and high annual value without long-term deferrals.
Bichette’s new deal with the Mets follows the contract blueprint popularized by Cody Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, but at a significantly higher tax bracket. Both players utilized a short-term, high-AAV structure with multiple player opt-outs to maintain control of their future after "prove-it" periods.
Both deals span three years and grant the player opt-out rights after every season, allowing them to return to free agency if they perform well. However, the financial scale is vastly different: while Bellinger’s 2024 contract carried a total value of $80 million with a $26.6 million AAV, Bichette’s deal reaches a staggering $126 million total with a $42 million AAV.
Effectively, the Mets are using the same flexible "Bellinger model" to mitigate long-term risk, but they are paying a $15 million-per-year premium to secure a elite, high-average bat for their new-look infield.
How old is Bo Bichette?
Bichette is 27 years old.
He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2nd round of the 2016 MLB Draft with the 66th overall pick, and made his debut on July 29, 2019.
Bichette leaves the Blue Jays as one of the most productive offensive shortstops in the franchise's history. Over seven seasons, he compiled a .294 career batting average with 904 hits and 111 home runs across 748 games. He consistently served as a high-volume run producer, totaling 437 RBIs and 438 runs scored while leading the American League in hits twice during his tenure.
Beyond the regular season, Bichette’s final act as a Blue Jay was a heroic 2025 postseason, where he notably hit a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series. He departs Toronto having established franchise records for the most hits by a player in his first 400 games and as the only Blue Jay shortstop to ever reach the 100-career home run milestone.
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