NEW YORK — The Bo Bichette signing sent shockwaves through the baseball world. The Mets moved fast after losing Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers. They locked up the former Blue Jays star on a three-year, $126 million deal with opt-outs.
Many Yankees fans exhaled. They assumed this meant the Mets were done hunting for position players. That assumption could prove very, very wrong.
Multiple reports suggest Steve Cohen’s club remains interested in Cody Bellinger. The former MVP is still the top position player available on the market. And the Yankees are stuck in a contract stalemate with him.
Bichette fills one hole but leaves another wide open
The Mets entered the offseason with glaring roster needs. They traded Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, creating a massive hole in the outfield. In exchange for Nimmo, they acquired second baseman Marcus Semien.
That gave the Mets a strong middle infield with Francisco Lindor at short. But their outfield depth became dangerously thin. Only four outfielders currently occupy the 40-man roster.
Bichette will move from shortstop to third base in Queens. He bounced back nicely in 2025, slashing .304/.349/.470 with 16 home runs for Toronto. The two-time All-Star turns 28 in March and adds a prime-age bat to the lineup.
But here is the problem. Bichette addresses the infield. He does nothing for the outfield crisis. The Mets still desperately need help in center and left field.
The Yankees offer sits on the table while Mets circle
The Yankees have offered Bellinger approximately five years at $155-160 million. That averages out to roughly $31-32 million annually. The Bronx brain trust believes this is fair.
Bellinger and agent Scott Boras disagree. They want seven years. The gap between five and seven years has created a standoff. Neither side has budged for weeks.
This is where it gets interesting for the Yankees. According to Pat Ragazzo of Mets On SI, the Mets remain “in play” for Bellinger despite the Bichette signing. Sources told him the club has not backed off.
MLB analyst predicts Bellinger ends up a Met
Former MLB catcher Anthony Recker appeared on MLB Tonight this week. He made a bold prediction that should concern every Yankees fan.
“I do think the Yankees probably need him more. I think he’s going to end up a Met. I do. I really do,” Recker said on the broadcast with Robert Flores.
Recker drew parallels to last offseason. He referenced how the Yankees responded after losing Juan Soto to the Mets.
“Remember after the Mets signed Juan Soto last year? Then the Yankees all of a sudden went one, two, three and signed three straight including Devin Williams,” Recker continued. “It just feels like we’re setting the Mets up for that right now. They go out and get Bichette, and then it’s gonna be, boom. You know what? What the heck, we need to compete at the highest level in the NL. Let’s go get us Bellinger too.”
Bellinger fits the Mets roster like a glove
The positional fit makes too much sense for the Mets to ignore. Bellinger plays elite defense in center field and left field. He also handles first base with ease. This versatility addresses multiple problem areas.
His left-handed bat would balance a lineup heavy with right-handed hitters. Lindor, Soto, and Bichette all bat from the right side. Bellinger would provide protection and lineup balance.
Bellinger also rakes at Citi Field. He carries a .929 career OPS in 20 games at the Mets home ballpark. The Queens dimensions suit his swing well.
The Mets offered Tucker four years and $220 million before he chose the Dodgers. Those funds remain available. Cohen has already shown he will pay whatever it takes to build a winner.
Payroll concerns do not apply in Queens
The Bichette deal pushed the Mets payroll to approximately $358 million. That ranks second highest in baseball. The luxury tax penalties will be enormous.
Cohen does not care. His net worth dwarfs the tax bills. Adding Bellinger would push the payroll toward an unprecedented $390 million. The owner has already committed $51 million annually to Soto through 2039.
The Mets could offer Bellinger a shorter-term, higher annual value contract. Think four years at $35-37 million annually. That approach fits David Stearns’ preference for flexibility. It also gives Bellinger a path back to free agency in his early thirties.
Yankees face mounting pressure to close the deal
The Yankees can no longer wait this out. Tucker signed with the Dodgers. Bichette went to the Mets. Alex Bregman joined the Cubs. Bellinger is the last impact bat available.
Brian Cashman needs Bellinger to replace the production Juan Soto provided. Aaron Judge needs lineup protection. Without Bellinger, the Yankees have no clear path to address these needs.
Bellinger hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs for the Yankees in 2025. He played 152 games and posted a 5.1 WAR. Those numbers prove his value when healthy.
The Mets involvement has shifted leverage toward Bellinger. Boras now has a deep-pocketed suitor to play against the Yankees. The game of chicken just got a lot more dangerous for the Bronx.
Yankees fans assumed Bichette’s signing ended the Mets’ threat level. Reports suggest otherwise. The battle for Bellinger is far from over. And time is running out.
What do you think?
