Jul 5, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) hits a double to drive in two runs against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Bo Bichette is to the Mets what the cat was to Schrodinger.
David Stearns has no other option than to sell at the trade deadline, and practically everything not nailed to the floor is going to be available before Major League Baseball’s Aug. 3 cutoff.
Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are likely untouchable. So are Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, and AJ Ewing. That’s a short list.
Players on expiring contracts include Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Brooks Raley, and AJ Minter. All four pitchers should garner significant interest over the next three weeks.
If there were a way to unload Kodai Senga, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco, whose values could not be lower, Stearns would likely be grateful to talk.
Then there is Bichette, who signed a three-year, $142 million deal to jump from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Mets over the winter, and fell flat on his face out of the gates. He’s done well to shake it off, batting .350 with a .937 OPS over the last month, but his .258 batting average is still 53 points lower than his mark last season.
With a player option in his contract after the 2026 season, Bichette has the advantage heading toward the trade deadline. The Mets are unsure in which direction the third baseman will go after this season, and only time will tell.
If Bichette keeps this up and finishes the 2026 season strong, it would be logical to jump back into what is a thin free-agent market and get the long-term deal he was searching for during the offseason. If he struggles, he’ll want to right the ship in Queens to bolster his resume before he gets to the open market following the 2028 season.
Obviously, a clear indication of Bichette opting out would force Stearns to start entertaining trade calls, but there is no evidence that such an admission from the player would come in the next three-and-a-half weeks. So continues a fruitless waiting game.
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