NEW YORK -- In a small way, Bo Bichette has already begun the transition to third base. At home, before flying to New York for an introductory news conference on Wednesday, Bichette began taking ground balls at his new defensive home. It’s not much, but it’s a start.
For a Mets team that focused its offseason on improving run prevention, it may be a curious look to sign Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract, then immediately ask the natural shortstop to move to a position he hasn’t played since high school. It may seem even more curious for a team that also inked Jorge Polanco to a two-year deal and shoehorned him into an equally unfamiliar position at first.
The Mets just don’t see it that way.
“There are going to be certain days this season -- probably a lot of days this season -- where we’re going to be playing four shortstops on the infield,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “And that’s a pretty distinct advantage.”
Those four players -- Bichette, Polanco, Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien -- have all spent more Major League time at shortstop than at any other position. But it’s Bichette whose transition looms most important, for several reasons. At this point, Semien has spent much of his career at second base and proven himself there. Polanco also figures to enjoy plenty of DH days, ceding first-base reps potentially to Mark Vientos, Brett Baty or others.
Bichette is the only one who signed a big-money megadeal with the expectation that he would learn a new position on the fly. In addition to taking ground balls at home, Bichette reached out to five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman, his former teammate with the Blue Jays, to seek advice. Once Bichette arrives at Spring Training next month, the Mets intend to have him work closely with new bench coach Kai Correa and infield coach Tim Leiper. Bichette joked that he needed to watch tape of the one inning his father, longtime outfielder Dante Bichette, played at third base for the Angels in 1991.
“I think all my ego about shortstop was thrown out the window during the World Series,” Bichette said. “I just wanted to win.”
After missing the first three rounds of the postseason due to a left knee sprain, Bichette returned during the World Series against the Dodgers as a second baseman to reduce the pressure on his knee. In that role, he performed admirably, playing five errorless games.
The knee is fully healed now, but Bichette still entered free agency willing to talk to teams about being a second baseman, third baseman or shortstop. More important to him was finding a place where he could plausibly return to the World Series.
“My first priority is winning,” he said.
So when the Mets came calling, Bichette had no misgivings about a transition to third. Nor did team officials. Despite the fact that Bichette posted one of the poorest range factors of any Major League shortstop last season, the Mets believe a move to his right will help him in that regard.
“I think generally, even shortstops who may not have great range as shortstops generally have pretty good range at other positions,” Stearns said. “And I think Bo is going to be able to handle that just fine at third base.”
How it all shakes out remains to be seen, but if Bichette can play passable defense at his new position while approximating the .311/.357/.483 slash line he submitted at the plate last season, the Mets should have themselves an excellent player. Bichette does have opt-outs after each of the first two years in his contract, and at age 27, he stands a decent chance of exercising them. But he also signed in New York because he’s comfortable with the idea of playing there.
The only move Bichette intends to make right now is from shortstop to third base -- not from Queens to another destination.
“I don’t think anything can prepare you for New York,” he said. “I’m not unaware that New York is a challenge. I’m not shying away from it. I’m ready for it, and I’m excited for it. These fans hold you accountable, and I think as a player wanting to be your best self, that’s only a positive.”