The New York Mets improved their offseason with several signings that could turn them back into a contending team, although it will be very difficult to overcome the major departures of Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz, players the organization was unable to convince to stay.
One of the biggest additions the Mets made was Bo Bichette, who arrives after reaching the World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays and signed a three-year, $126 million contract. The challenge is that Bichette has spent his entire career playing shortstop, and now joins a team where that position is already firmly occupied.
That role belongs to star Francisco Lindor, meaning everything points to Bichette being slotted in as the Mets’ starting third baseman.
Can Bo Bichette handle the move to third base?
There have been doubts about Bichette’s ability to play the hot corner, as his defensive metrics at shortstop were not among the league’s best. However, inside the Mets organization, there is strong belief that his athleticism will allow him to adapt successfully.
In fact, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza watched Bichette work out at third base this week in Port St. Lucie and was impressed, according to his comments in an interview with the New York Post. Mendoza noted that Bichette handled drills at third base as if he had played the position before.
That said, a significant portion of the fan base remains more excited about what Bichette can bring offensively than about his defensive contribution.
With the arrivals of Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco alongside Francisco Lindor, the Mets will feature four former shortstops in their infield-a configuration that should significantly improve defensive range and run prevention as the team looks ahead to the 2026 MLB season.
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