Bo Bichette Signs Three-Year, $126 Million Deal With Mets After Turning Down Seven-Year Phillies Offer

Bo Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets that includes opt-outs after each season. The deal came after the Mets failed to sign Kyle Tucker, who instead agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that includes a player opt-out after the 2027 season. Mets owner Steve Cohen then pivoted to Bichette.

Bichette left the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent before signing with the Mets. A reported seven-year, $200 million offer had been made to him by the Philadelphia Phillies. Bichette stated on Thursday that he did not believe a deal with the Phillies was agreed to.

“I thought it was an opportunity, for sure,” he said. “But there was definitely things that needed to be worked out for that to become a possibility. ” Bichette also said the presence of former Blue Jays coach Don Mattingly, now the Phillies manager, made Philadelphia an enticing option.

“We had a lot of good talks,” he said. “That’s a great team over there. Obviously, Donnie being over there was enticing to me. ” Don Mattingly joined the Philadelphia Phillies coaching staff for the 2026 season after serving on the Toronto Blue Jays staff in 2025.

He became manager after Rob Thomson was fired. The New York Mets played a series against the Philadelphia Phillies that began on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Citizens Bank Park. Bichette wore uniform number 19 for the Mets during a March 29, 2026 game at Citi Field.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber reported Bichette’s comments made on Thursday.