Free Agent Profile: Bo Bichette, SS

Bo Bichette, SS

Position: SS B/T: R/R

Player Data: Age: 27 (03/05/1998)

2025 Traditional Stats: 628 PA, .311/.357/.483/.840, 181 H, 18 HR, 44 2B, 94 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 134 wRC+, 14.5% K%, 6.4% BB%, .342 BABIP, .364 xwOBA, -12 DRS, -13 OAA, 3.8 fWAR, 3.4 bWAR

Rundown

In 2024, Bo Bichette endured the worst season of his big league career. The two-time All-Star saw his OPS dip below .600 and made three trips to the injured list, resulting in him missing 81 games. In 2025, however, Bichette returned to form, putting together the best overall offensive season of his career and helping the Blue Jays capture their first AL East title since 2015.

Bichette set full-season career-best marks in batting average, on-base percentage, doubles, walk rate, strikeout rate, OPS, OPS+, and wRC+. The 27-year-old likely would have led the AL in hits for a third time had it not been for a late-season hamstring injury that cost him the last three weeks of the regular season – he finished just three hits behind Bobby Witt Jr. for the league lead. Bichette also trailed Witt by three for the major league lead in doubles.

While Bichette’s BABIP jumped from .269 to .342, his .307 xBA, .489 xSLG, and .364 xwOBA prove that his success wasn’t just based on luck. Bichette’s plate discipline improved as well – his chase rate fell from 37.1% to 35.2%, and whiff rate dropped from 22% to a career-low 18.4%. He was also the majors’ best hitter with men in scoring position, batting .381/.427/.626 in those situations. Bichette returned from his injury in time for the World Series, and he picked up right where he left off at the plate, going 8-for-23, including a mammoth three-run homer in Game 7 of the series. Bichette drove in six runs in the Fall Classic and drew four walks against four strikeouts in 27 plate appearances.

Bichette’s biggest drawback continued to be his defense, and his negative-13 OAA and negative-12 DRS ranked among the worst in the majors. During the World Series, John Schneider opted to have Bichette play second base and serve as the designated hitter and play the slick-fielding Andrés Giménez at shortstop. Bichette’s average sprint speed also decreased to a career-low 26.1 feet per second, and he swiped just four bases in seven tries.

Contract

Entering 2025, it looked as if Bichette would have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal, but he recouped almost all the value he lost during his disastrous 2024 season. Spotrac projects him to sign an eight-year contract worth $186.4 million, which averages out to $23.3 million per season. While it seems rather unlikely that he gets a contract of that length, Bichette could exceed that average annual value, and given his age, he could set himself up for another big payday if he takes a shorter-term deal.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

The Mets have a bit of a logjam in the infield currently, and Bichette certainly wouldn’t play shortstop if he signed in Flushing with Francisco Lindor holding down that position. If the Mets were to move on from Jeff McNeil and trade away Jett Williams for a pitcher, Bichette would have an opening at second base. Bichette could also slot in as the team’s DH if they don’t retain Pete Alonso or Mark Vientos. Considering that Bichette is just now entering the prime of his career, it’s possible that his best days are yet to come. However, it wouldn’t be worth it for David Stearns to spend excessively and offer a long-term contract to try to outbid other teams for Bichette’s services. Stearns said that run prevention is a priority this offseason, and signing Bichette wouldn’t exactly address that issue, unless he’s willing to be a DH.

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