Bo Bichette Exercises Option to Return to Mets for 2027 Season

Bo Bichette will exercise his $42 million player option to stay with the New York Mets for the 2027 season, bypassing free agency amidst a weak market and a looming MLB lockout. The decision locks down third base and secures a veteran right-handed bat for a club looking to rebound from a 74-88 finish.

The first major domino of the Major League Baseball offseason fell late Thursday when Bo Bichette opted into his massive salary for next year. Coming off a season where his overall production dipped below his career norms, the 28-year-old infielder chose guaranteed financial security over testing an unpredictable open market.

With a collective bargaining agreement expiring in December and the genuine threat of a work stoppage hanging over the sport, the choice offered certainty. When I signed here, I took it as a three-year deal, Bichette told Ken Rosenthal earlier in the year regarding his contract structure.

How Bichette Saved the Mets From Another Offseason Dilemma

President of baseball operations David Stearns avoided what could have been a glaring vacancy at third base. After missing out on outfielder Kyle Tucker in free agency, the Mets signed Bichette to a three-year contract featuring player options after each season. The arrangement essentially operated as a series of one-year commitments at $42 million apiece.

That salary slots right among the six most expensive in the majors, and he holds another $42 million player option for 2028. But after a rocky start in Queens—which included early-season boos at Citi Field and an awkward defensive transition from shortstop—Bichette stabilized significantly over the final four months of the schedule. He finished the 160-game campaign batting .260 with 18 home runs, 78 RBI, and a .702 OPS.

This is a huge piece for the Mets, and for David Stearns to know that he is going to be there in the middle of the lineup, more towards the top of the lineup.

Jim Duquette, former Mets general manager via SNY Mets

That second-half surge changed the math for both sides. While his full-year numbers fell short of his stellar 2025 final campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays—where he posted an .840 OPS and helped lead a World Series run—his late-season adjustments proved he could handle third base defensively. He finished the year batting .284 with 13 home runs and a .772 OPS over his final 101 games.

Lineup Balance and the New York Roster Outlook for 2027

Stearns acknowledged that the amount of upheaval previously may have contributed to the disastrous 2026 season, which was sidetracked by injuries to Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor and underperformance from key veterans despite encouraging debuts by rookie outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. Ewing.

In a weak free agent class headlined by players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Arráez, and Brandon Lowe, Bichette likely would have commanded a longer commitment on the open market, but his average annual value would have fallen well short of his current $42 million price tag.

By locking in his salary for 2027, Bichette retains another player option for the 2028 season. If he sustains his late-year form over a full 162-game schedule next year, he will have another opportunity to test free agency.