Kyle Tucker’s decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers appears to have led to major movement on the free agent market in Major League Baseball.
Infielder Bo Bichette has agreed to a 3-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Infielder Bo Bichette and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $126 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 16, 2026
After losing the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, the Mets pivot quickly and get one of the best players left on the market. @WillSammon was first on the deal.
The Mets felt like they needed to do something impactful, and they have succeeded. They were strongly pursuing Tucker before he spurned them to sign with the Dodgers, but they acted very quickly to ensure they would not be left completely empty-handed.
Bichette was one of the most highly-pursued free agents on the market coming off a strong season with the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit .311 with 18 home runs and was a key part of the Toronto team that came so close to winning a World Series in 2025.
It remains to be seen where the Mets will play Bichette. With Francisco Lindor locked in at shortstop and Marcus Semien the apparent second baseman, it would make a lot of sense to slot Bichette in at third base, which would represent a change for the longtime shortstop.
Mets owner Steve Cohen had suggested the team was trying hard to make a big move on Thursday. Most took that to be referencing Tucker, but perhaps Bichette was the name they were after.
