Mets to pay more than double Bo Bichette's $42 million AAV in 2026 amid MLB penalty

The New York Mets made a major free-agent splash this winter and are bringing in Bo Bichette on a massive three-year, $126 million contract.

Not only will their new third baseman improve their offense, but they also stole him from the Philadelphia Phillies. It's a move that helps the Mets and hurts their top competition.

But that $42 million AAV isn't actually what the Mets are going to be on the hook for in 2026. Instead, as Matt Gelb of The Athletic notes, the Mets will be penalized and will actually pay more than double his 2026 salary.

Mets likely to spend nearly $100M on Bichette in 2026

"The Mets will pay a 110 percent tax on much of Bichette's deal," Gelb writes, "making it close to a potential $95 million commitment for that one year."

Bichette's 2026 contract is for $42 million, and combined with the Mets being over the luxury tax and at the highest threshold, they will be penalized by the league and have to spend 110 percent on his deal.

That means that Bichette's 2026 contract will pay the former Toronto Blue Jays infielder $42 million, but the Mets will have to pay $95 million on his deal.

While there could be updated contract terms once the deal is official, that could change that number, the luxury tax penalty is not something the Mets can avoid.

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This is something the Los Angeles Dodgers are also paying with Kyle Tucker. They'll be on the hook for over $126 million with Tucker's deal, as he's getting around $57 million per-year from the Dodgers after deferrals.

The Mets are getting one of the best free-agent position players left on the market, but they're doing so at a very high cost. With the lofty $42 million AAV, the Mets will be on the hook for $95 million or so in 2026 due to the penalty.

It's a lofty financial penalty, but the Mets are one of a few teams that have an owner willing to take on such massive penalties. Steve Cohen is building a great team and throwing millions around to do so.

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