Overview
- Multiple outlets reported Sunday that rival MLB executives expect Bichette to exercise his post-2026 opt-out, a projection traced to USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale.
- Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million deal with a $40 million signing bonus and annual opt-outs that would leave him a $5 million buyout if he departs after 2026.
- His 2026 performance has been well below expectations — about a .236 average, a .644 OPS and roughly an 80 OPS+ with negative bWAR — which underpins the opt-out speculation.
- If he walks, teams that pursued him last winter, notably the Phillies and interest noted from the Red Sox, could get another chance but may only offer shorter or lower-value 'prove-it' deals.
- The opt-out structure gives Bichette yearly control: he can turn a one-year, roughly $47 million payout into free agency, so the remainder of the season will determine whether that risk is sensible.