Bo Bichette Takes $42 Million Mets Option, Stays for 2027
Bo Bichette exercised his $42 million Mets player option for 2027 after a late-season rebound, staying in New York instead of testing free agency.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
NEW YORK — Bo Bichette will remain with the New York Mets in 2027 after exercising his $42 million player option rather than entering MLB free agency. The decision keeps the 28-year-old at third base for a second season in Queens and removes one of the winter’s most prominent potential bats from the open market.
Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract with New York in January. Had he opted out, the Mets would have owed him a $5 million buyout. He also holds another $42 million player option for 2028, giving him the chance to revisit free agency after next season.
A Late Rebound Made the Mets Return More Promising
Bichette’s first year in New York was uneven. He finished 2026 batting .260 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs across 160 games, producing a .702 OPS after moving from shortstop to third base alongside Francisco Lindor.
The final line, however, hid a significant midseason recovery. Bichette hit .213 with five homers and a .570 OPS through June 2, then batted .289 with 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and a .784 OPS over his final 99 games.
That improvement gave the Mets a better picture of the hitter they expected when they signed the former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star. Bichette entered 2026 with a .294 career average and had helped Toronto reach the 2025 World Series before moving to New York.
Guaranteed Money Wins Out Before an Uncertain Winter
The $42 million guarantee offered Bichette security after a below-average offensive season. It also comes before a potentially unsettled MLB winter, with the collective bargaining agreement due to expire on December 1 and a possible lockout hanging over the offseason.
For the Mets, Bichette’s return provides continuity on the left side of the infield with Lindor. New York finished 74-88 and missed the postseason for a second straight year, leaving rotation and bullpen work among the club’s central offseason priorities.
Bichette can now use 2027 as another opportunity to build on his second-half rebound. A stronger season would allow him to consider the market again next winter; another opt-in would guarantee the final $42 million season of the deal.
