Latest Bo Bichette Rumor Would Help Mets Avoid Having to Make Drastic Change

The New York Mets have a laundry list of items to check off in order to improve this roster for the 2027 season. However, it looks like they won't need to worry about finding another third baseman.

According to the latest reports from Jon Heyman of the New York Post, one rival executive believes the chances of Bo Bichette opting out of his current deal are "zero." That's certainly great news for the Mets, given Bichette's current hot streak and the clear lack of third-base options in free agency this coming offseason.

As we wrote about a couple of weeks ago, both the internal and external options at third base are extremely limited. Brett Baty could make the move over to the hot corner full-time, but he's currently hitting just .217/.290/.332 with a .622 OPS. Ronny Mauricio has yet to prove himself at the Major League level. And there isn't exactly a treasure chest of third basemen about to become free agents, either.

Why Bichette not opting out is a blessing for the Mets

At first blush, Bichette not opting out would give the Mets some stability at a really important position. With so many other needs to address, the last thing the front office would want to do is to go out and give up a lot of prospect capital in a trade for a third baseman, or shell out a lot of money in free agency on a below-average option. But it goes way beyond that.

It is no secret that Bichette endured just an awful start to his Mets career. Not many things went right for the Mets during the first half of the season, and seeing Bichette struggle both at the plate and in the field was certainly near the top of that list. However, he's been on an absolute tear of late and is showing why he could be a big-time contributor in 2027.

Over his last 32 games, Bichette is slashing .310/.357/.472 with seven doubles, a triple, four home runs, 15 RBIs, and 16 runs scored. He's been his dangerous self with runners in scoring position, he's come up with a number of big hits, and he looks to have turned a real corner offensively. In other words, he's operating at the peak of his powers right now.

Furthermore, Bichette has shown improvements defensively. While he's never going to be a Gold Glove-caliber defender, he can at least be serviceable at the hot corner, and he's a solid option until the Mets find their third baseman of the future. You also can't discount Bichette's durability. He's played in 130 games so far this year and is one of the only members of the team's core to have stayed on the field consistently. That's a big, big plus.

It also can't be overstated just how much more comfortable Bichette looks in a Mets uniform. While some believe the pressures of playing in New York are overstated, it's a real thing, and we've seen plenty of players melt in The Big Apple.

There was always going to be an adjustment period for Bichette, who had never played with another team outside of the Toronto Blue Jays before signing with the Mets. Maybe all he needed was a little bit of time to settle in and adapt to a new franchise, a new market, and a new way of life.

Now clearly comfortable and clicking at just the right time, it is feasible to think that this current version of Bichette could be a real boon for the Mets in 2027. Yes, the $42 million he's due to be paid next year is a hell of a lot of money.

With that said, if Bichette can replicate his second-half showing over a full season, then it will be worth it. There is no doubt that the Bichette we are seeing right now can help get the Mets back to true contender status while providing this young core with some added firepower from the top of the lineup.

With no better options out there when it comes to third base, coupled with a really impressive resurgence since the All-Star break, Bichette staying with the Mets sure looks like the best-case scenario for all parties as of right now.

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