Phillies Reportedly Made Seven-Year Offer To Bo Bichette

"Bichette has decided to go a different route and it's understandable why he would. He is still quite young, only 27 years old, turning 28 in March. With this Mets deal, the specific structure hasn't yet been reported, but it's a $42MM average annual value. If he stays healthy and productive, he can bank more than 20% of what the Phils offered him in one year, then return to the open market in search of another long-term offer. If he has an injury-shortened season or his performance takes a downturn, he can decline his opt-out and continue earning at a high rate."

"Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Phillies thought they were going to land Bichette with a $200MM deal over seven years until the Mets swooped in with their offer after losing Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers last night. Matt Gelb of The Athletic says the offer was between $190MM and $200MM. The full breakdown of the offer from Philly isn't known, so it's hard to fully compare the two paths."

"But the basic structure is more in line with expectations from the beginning of the offseason. Back in November, MLBTR predicted Bichette for a $208MM deal over eight years, an average annual value of $26MM. Philly's offer, assuming no deferrals were involved, would have been a slightly lower guarantee but at a higher AAV of $28.6MM. That kind of deal would have been in line with other deals received by All-Star middle infielders in recent years."

Bo Bichette agreed to a three-year contract with the Mets that carries a $42 million average annual value and opt-outs after each season. Philadelphia reportedly offered a longer seven-year deal near $190–200 million before the Mets intervened following their loss of Kyle Tucker. Exact details of the Phillies offer, including any deferrals or opt-outs, remain unclear and complicate direct comparisons. Earlier projections anticipated a larger long-term guarantee near $200+ million. The Mets’ shorter deal gives Bichette the chance to re-enter free agency quickly if he performs well while still earning at a high annual rate.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors