Even though they didn't get Kyle Tucker, the New York Mets hit one out of the park on Friday, and they managed to sign infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract. In the process, it denied the Philadelphia Phillies their shot, despite much speculation about a deal in the works.
After primarily playing shortstop and second base, Bichette will be playing at third base in his first year with the Mets, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
This past year, Bichette was an integral part of the Toronto Blue Jays' run to the World Series. He batted .348 with a home run and six RBIs during the seven-game series. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers came away victorious.
Afterward, there was a push for the Blue Jays to sign Bochette. During the regular season, he batted .311 with 181 home runs, 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs. Although Bochette's plate performance speaks for itself, there have been some concerns about his overall defensive play.
Meanwhile, the Mets finished at 83-79 and didn't make the playoffs. During the offseason, they have made some big moves. They traded away veteran players such as Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo.
In the process, the Mets acquired second baseman Marcus Semien and first baseman Jorge Polanco in trades.
Bochette was drafted in 2016 out of Arizona State University in the second round. In 2019, he made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays. Bochette became a two-time MLB All-Star in 2021 and 2023. Also, he was the NL hits leader in 2021 and 2022.
