SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 02: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets looks on against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays entered the All-Star break still in the thick of the American League postseason race despite some first-half struggles. Meanwhile, their former franchise shortstop has virtually fallen out of contention.
While Bo Bichette has settled into life with the New York Mets after leaving Toronto in free agency, speculation continues about whether he will remain in Queens beyond this season, as he secured an opt-out in his latest contract as well as a no-trade clause.
Bichette signed a lucrative short-term deal with the Mets after spending nearly a decade as one of the faces of the Blue Jays franchise. Although his first few months in New York were uneven, his production has improved, and now he’s facing questions about his long-term future with the club ahead of the trade deadline.
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As Bichette and the Mets sit in last place in the National League East division, it seems like the team is headed toward a deadline fire sale, which would likely push them even further out of playoff contention.
But the former Blue Jays shortstop isn’t completely unfamiliar with that possibility and he recently sent a message about his former team when reflecting on the season.
“We had a lot of injuries (in the 2024 season) and I was one of them,” Bichette told the New York Post’s Mike Puma. “I don’t know if I have ever been this far out of (the playoff race) before, but we were definitely not in a good place.”
The comments served as a reminder of some challenges during Bichette’s Blue Jays tenure, though he and the team bounced back last year with an American League pennant. And Bichette’s Blue Jays recollection came as he answered questions about his ability to block trade and to potentially leave the Mets after this season.
“Bichette has indicated he’s in no hurry to leave,” Puma added. “And yet, the third baseman stopped short Saturday of saying he would block any trade proposal that involves him. ‘That hasn’t been brought to my attention right now, so I don’t have an answer,’ Bichette said before the Mets lost to the (Philadelphia) Phillies 6-1 at Citizens Bank Park.”
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Despite the Mets disappointments, Bichette probably won’t be forced to waive his no-trade clause as the size of his contract makes him virtually unmoveable.
“Bo Bichette is also considered unlikely to be traded,” MLB.com noted last week. “The 28-year-old infielder has slashed .293/.330/.470 with eight homers in his past 51 games after a dreadful start to his Mets tenure, but he has a pair of $42 million player options left on his deal and will make $5 million if he opts out.”
That turnaround has strengthened Bichette’s value after a difficult opening stretch in New York. It also reinforces why the Mets are expected to keep him unless an unexpected opportunity emerges.
But then the team might lose him for nothing in return if he does leverage his looming opt out.