Mets, Bo Bichette are heading to an unexpected $84 million path

Mets, Bo Bichette are heading to an unexpected $84 million path originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Bo Bichette left the Toronto Blue Jays for the New York Mets, the contract was eye-catching: three years, $126 million.

That's $42 million per season, but the truth of the deal was a bit more complex. It had an opt-out built in after the first year.

Bichette, was all set to play the 2026 MLB season for $42 million on the Mets' salary cap, opt out of the deal and look for a potentially even bigger, longer contract in free agency.

One problem -- Bichette isn't playing like a guy who can afford to pass up two additional seasons at $42 million apiece.

"I don't think Bo Bichette is on track to opt out of his deal," ESPN's Kiley McDaniel wrote on Monday.

A player like Bichette builds opt-outs into a contract like this in the hopes of maximizing his long-term value. The Mets likely didn't want to give Bichette an average value of $42 million over five years, but they'd do it over three -- and if Bichette played well enough to then earn that payday from another team in the offseason over a longer stretch of time, then he could opt out and go after it.