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Bichette's Struggles Slash Production Despite $42M Salary

5/20/2026

Summary

Bichette Faces Slump

Bo Bichette is hitting .210/.262/.269 with a wRC+ of 54 in 46 games.
After position changes his defensive fWAR is 3.0 while offensive fWAR is –11.3.
His $42 million salary ranks fourth on the Mets behind Soto, Bellinger and Tucker.
Expected .277 average and .398 slugging fell 67 and 127 points, making him the league’s unluckiest hitter.
He said the new spots take more mental strain, hurting his swing overall.

Summary

Mets Surge

The Mets have won six of their last seven games, improving momentum after a 21-26 start.
Team president of baseball operations David Stearns oversaw a roster restructuring that included Bo Bichette’s three-year, $126 million contract.
Starter Nolan McLean gave up nine runs (six earned) on 2026-05-20, marking his worst career outing.
Reliever Daniel Duarte debuted with 2 1/3 shutout innings while rookie Zack Thornton is set to debut against the Nationals.

History

Historical Context

Since Steve Cohen bought the Mets in 2020, the franchise has pursued blockbuster deals—most notably a three-year, $130 million contract for Max Scherzer in 2021. After hiring David Stearns as president of baseball operations in September 2023, the organization continued this trend with another multi-year, high-value contract, reinforcing concerns that big signings can limit roster flexibility.

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Bichette Faces Slump

Bo Bichette is hitting .210/.262/.269 with a wRC+ of 54 in 46 games.
After position changes his defensive fWAR is 3.0 while offensive fWAR is –11.3.
His $42 million salary ranks fourth on the Mets behind Soto, Bellinger and Tucker.
Expected .277 average and .398 slugging fell 67 and 127 points, making him the league’s unluckiest hitter.
He said the new spots take more mental strain, hurting his swing overall.

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