Overview
- Bo Bichette has exercised his $42 million player option and will remain with the New York Mets for the 2027 season, a decision first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic and quickly confirmed by multiple outlets.
- His deal is a three-year, $126 million contract that included identical $42 million player options after 2026 and 2027 with $5 million buyouts, meaning opting out now would have forfeited roughly $84 million in remaining guarantees.
- Bichette’s 2026 performance was uneven — he finished .260/.312/.390 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs after a very slow start and a stronger second half — a track record that made earning $42 million per year on the open market unlikely.
- The opt-in gives the Mets roster and payroll clarity as they plan the winter around Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto while deciding arbitration, possible non-tenders, and other additions.
- The choice preserves Bichette’s ability to opt out again after the 2027 season and reflects a financial preference for guaranteed pay during a season of labor uncertainty and a weak free-agent market.