Bo Bichette has learned the grass isn't always greener on the other side, even if the money is bigger.
In his first season with the Mets, the former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star now faces a real decision about whether to stick around New York.
The Mets sit at 50-66, last in the National League East, a record even worse than Toronto's own disappointing season this year.
That's despite one of the highest-priced rosters in baseball, including Bichette's three-year, $126 million contract signed in free agency this past winter.
With New York trading away several players at the deadline, real questions have emerged about the organization's direction, and Bichette holds the ability to opt out after each season of his deal.
Asked about that possibility, Bichette stayed focused on the present while sounding genuinely optimistic about the team's future.
"I think there's no doubt this team is going to be better next year," Bichette told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "There's still a lot of talent in this room, a lot of young talent that's really hungry, combined with guys that have been around who have done a lot of great things in this game."
Why Bichette takes some blame for this season
He didn't shy away from his own role in the team's struggles either.
"It hasn't been my best season for sure," Bichette said. "If I played better, maybe the season would be different for the team. But just focused on trying to finish strong."
His numbers back that up. Bichette is hitting .257 with 11 home runs across 115 games, a full 32 points below his career batting average and, outside his injury-shortened 2024, the worst offensive season of his career.
He was even booed at home early in the year during a cold start to his Mets tenure.
It's a bit like a big free agent signing that hasn't found its footing yet, both player and team still searching for the version everyone expected when the ink dried on that contract.
Does Bichette's optimism about next year's roster actually reflect real belief in the Mets' direction, or is he simply saying what he needs to while deciding whether to opt out?
Do you think Bo Bichette opts out of his Mets contract after this season?
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