Another One Off the Board: Boston Red Sox Miss on Bo Bichette

For much of the past week, Bo Bichette lived in that familiar space Red Sox fans know all too well - the gray area between “real possibility” and “probably not happening.”

There was logic to it. There was smoke. And there was a clear need.

Boston has spent the early part of the offseason talking about flexibility, internal options, and long-term vision, all while a lineup that too often stalled out in 2025 continued to lack a right-handed impact bat with star pedigree.

Bichette checked every box: age, pedigree, postseason upside, and positional versatility that could’ve stabilized the infield both now and in the future.

Instead, the Red Sox are watching another marquee name land elsewhere.

The New York Mets, pivoting quickly after missing on Kyle Tucker, agreed Friday to a three-year, $126 million contract with Bichette, pending a physical. The deal includes opt-outs after both the first and second seasons, contains no deferred money, and carries a hefty $42 million average annual value - a clear signal that New York was willing to pay for upside, even on a short-term horizon.

That willingness is the part that stings most in Boston.

This wasn’t a 10-year albatross or a franchise-altering commitment. It was a high-AAV, short-term bet on a 27-year-old hitter with multiple All-Star seasons on his resume. The Mets didn’t just spend - they spent creatively, understanding that Bichette’s opt-outs could turn the deal into little more than a one-year partnership if he performs as expected (sound familiar?).

For the Red Sox, that structure should’ve mattered.

Instead, Boston once again watched from the sideline as another aggressive club closed the gap between interest and action.

The Mets didn’t get Bichette cheaply. Because he declined a $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays, New York will forfeit its second and fifth-highest picks in the 2026 draft, along with $1 million from its international bonus pool. Toronto, meanwhile, will receive a compensatory pick after the fourth round.

New York was fine with the cost.

Boston, apparently, was not.

This comes just 12 hours after the Mets lost out on Tucker, who chose a four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers over New York’s $220 million offer. That miss sparked frustration within a fan base already grappling with a winter of departures. The response? Pivot fast. Spend big. Land a top-tier bat anyway.

That urgency stands in contrast to the Red Sox’ more measured approach - one that continues to prioritize optionality over assertiveness.

To be fair, Boston wasn’t alone in its interest.

The Phillies were heavily involved, and multiple teams saw Bichette as one of the best pure hitters available. But as the Mets’ projected payroll climbs to $345.7 million - well past the $304 million top competitive balance tax threshold - it’s clear New York decided that solving a problem now was worth the pain later.

The Red Sox, once again, chose patience.

Whether that patience pays off will define the rest of their offseason. But as the list of missed opportunities grows, and as impact players continue to come off the board, it’s becoming harder to ignore the pattern.

Bo Bichette wasn’t just another free agent.

He was another chance for the Red Sox to change the conversation.

And once again, that chance went elsewhere.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.