In light of the surprising news of Bo Bichette reportedly agreeing to terms with the Mets, we asked MLB Insider Mark Feinsand to break down what this means for the rest of the free agent and trade market.
Where do the Blue Jays go from here? If they were in on Kyle Tucker, might they turn their attention to Bellinger, or is he destined to be a Yankee?
The Yankees and Blue Jays figure to be the two teams that will be most aggressive on Bellinger, though the Mets can’t be ruled out as a potential landing spot for the outfielder, either. The Yankees would like to bring Bellinger back after a successful first year in the Bronx, but they have been set on a five-year deal while Bellinger is said to be seeking seven years. The Mets continue to seek outfield help after trading Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, and as we have seen in the past, Steve Cohen will spend money when he believes it’s appropriate.
As for the Blue Jays, Toronto would like to add an outfielder -- hence their heavy interest in Kyle Tucker before he signed with the Dodgers -- as the Blue Jays have struggled to develop outfielders in recent years. Daulton Varsho is set to become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season, as is George Springer, whose best days as an everyday outfielder are behind him. That leaves Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido as the only outfielders under control beyond this season, making them a potential candidate to enter the Bellinger sweepstakes.
The Phillies were reportedly close to a deal with Bichette, and they responded by re-signing J.T. Realmuto soon after news of Bichette’s deal dropped. Is this it for them, or do they have another big move up their sleeve?
Philadelphia’s entry into the Bichette sweepstakes was something of a surprise, as it was believed that Kyle Schwarber’s five-year, $150 million contract would be the only nine-figure deal they gave out this winter. With Realmuto back in the fold, the Phillies are likely finished with their heavy lifting for the offseason, though they could still make some minor moves to tweak the roster. If anything, Bichette’s decision to go to the Mets should end most of the trade speculation involving Alec Bohm, who should enter his final season prior to free agency as the Phillies’ starting third baseman.
What does this mean for Framber Valdez, a supposed Mets target? What does his market look like now?
As I mentioned above, Bichette’s deal doesn’t necessarily end the Mets’ offseason spending. Like their outfield, the starting rotation is still a need for New York, with Valdez and Zac Gallen representing the two best arms remaining on the free-agent market. The Orioles continue to be a potential destination for Valdez, as both Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias have ties to the left-hander from their Houston days. Valdez has been a proven workhorse, but at 32 years old, teams might be hesitant to give him the long-term deal he’s seeking.
Is this the Mets' "big move," or might they still be in on Valdez or Bellinger? Or is their next big move more likely a trade?
Bichette was a quick pivot for the Mets after they missed out on Tucker, but the notion that they are finished might be premature. They lost Pete Alonso to free agency and traded both Nimmo and McNeil, arguably leaving the lineup weaker than it was a year ago even with the additions of Bichette, Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco. The need in the rotation also stands out, so even if they don’t make a “big move” in either the outfield or rotation, there certainly figure to be more moves to come.