Bo Bichette might not be in New York much longer

This is not a trade-target story anymore. The Mets already signed Bichette on January 20 to a 3-year, $126 million deal and shifted him to third base.

The early return has been rough. Bichette is hitting .217/.255/.283 with a .538 OPS through 98 plate appearances, a brutal line for a bat New York expected to anchor the infield.

The club's record has made that slump feel even heavier. The Mets opened Tuesday at 7-15 after a 10-game losing streak that shoved them into last place in the NL East.

That is where Toronto starts to look smart. The Blue Jays gave Bichette the $22.025 million qualifying offer, watched him decline it, and never chased the kind of contract New York handed out.

That was not an easy call after his 2025 rebound. Bichette hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, which is exactly why the Mets talked themselves into the bigger bet.

Right now, that bet looks shaky. New York is carrying the contract, the position change, and the daily pressure that comes with expecting an instant middle-order fix in Queens.

That does not mean Bichette cannot hit again. His Statcast page still shows a .291 expected batting average, which says some of this slump is built on weak results, not just weak swings.

But the Mets did not sign him for a patient April science project. They signed him to change games, lengthen the lineup, and give Mendoza one less problem to manage.

Instead, Bichette has become part of the mess. When the offense cratered during that skid, MLB.com pointed to a .175/.213/.257 team slash line during the slide. A struggling star infielder only made it worse.

So yes, New York may need a big change, and Bichette could land in the middle of it faster than expected. Maybe that means a lineup drop. Maybe it means the front office starts listening if rival clubs call in a few months.

Either way, this is the kind of early stress test Toronto avoided by letting him walk. The Blue Jays passed on the bigger commitment, and through the first 3 weeks, that call looks like the right one.