Overview
- Bichette must declare within five days after the World Series ends whether he will opt out of the final two years of his three-year, $126 million contract.
- His 2026 numbers — a .260 average, a .702 OPS and about 1.9 fWAR — have weakened his bargaining power and make it unlikely he would match a $42 million average annual value on the open market.
- The deal functions like three one-year contracts because Bichette holds opt-outs after both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, giving him a chance to re-enter free agency if he rebounds next year.
- Family comfort in New York and his public belief in the Mets’ young core are personal reasons that push toward staying, while looming CBA talks and a possible salary cap raise the value of locking in guaranteed pay now.
- If he opts in, Bichette secures the $42 million salary for 2027 and preserves the option to test the market after 2027; if he opts out, he risks a thinner free-agent market and CBA-driven salary limits that could reduce offers.