A contract extension for Freddy Peralta is unlikely before Opening Day
Plus, why Bo Bichette backing up at shortstop could be a smart move in multiple ways...
What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets lost 4-3 to the Cardinals on Friday with spring training nearing an end (box)
RHP Tobias Myer allowed an opposite-field home run but was otherwise solid, striking out two over two innings of work
LF D’Andre Smith drove in two of the Mets’ three runs with an RBI double in the eighth inning
RF Carson Benge collected another hit and drew a walk - he’s now hitting .412 this spring
3B Bo Bichette got the start at shortstop for the first time this spring, going 0-for-2 at the plate
DH Mark Vientos finished 0-for-3 at the plate as his spring training struggles continue
RHP Luke Weaver and LHP Brooks Raley both tossed scoreless innings, while LHP Bryan Hudson gave up three earned runs and two walks on just one hit across one inning of work
It is official - RHP Freddy Peralta will face off against Pirates RHP Paul Skenes on Opening Day at Citi Field (MLB.com)
Injury Updates 🏥
C Francisco Álvarez (back tightness) was feeling better on Friday and is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Austin Warren optioned to Triple-A
RHP Kevin Herget and RHP Robert Stock optioned to Triple-A
What I’m Reading 📖
Jorge Polanco finally talked to Mets icon Keith Hernandez about playing first base (NY Post)
Generation K: The magic and regrets of a Mets dream that never was (NY Post+)
Bo Bichette embraces the New York spotlight (The Athletic)
Ten bold predictions for the 2026 MLB season (The Athletic)
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Today’s Games 🏝️
Split Squad, Game 1
Match-up: Mets SS (12-10) at Nationals (13-9)
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches - West Palm, FL
Starters: TBD vs. RHP Cade Cavalli (0-1, 0.00 ERA)
When: 1:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: N/A
Split Squad, Game 2
Match-up: Mets SS (12-10) vs. Astros (10-13)
Where: Clover Park - Port St. Lucie, FL
Starters: RHP Jonah Tong (0-1, 10.13 ERA) vs. RHP Mike Burrows (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: WPIX
Some thoughts on Bo Bichette at shortstop, and the latest Freddy Peralta contract news ✍️
Two compelling nuggets in particular really stood out to me in Mets land this week.
We got an interesting roster development with Bo Bichette revisiting an old position, while we heard from Freddy Peralta about the latest on a possible contract extension. I think both updates are fascinating for a myriad of different reasons.
Let’s start with Peralta.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Thursday that the Mets are “highly unlikely” to reach any kind of agreement on a long-term extension with their new starter before the start of the regular season, citing “people familiar with the discussions.”
However, with that said, I wouldn’t get too worried or pessimistic about the fact that Peralta will at least start the season without a new deal in his back pocket. For starters, I think we all saw the writing on the wall when it was previously reported that Peralta was seeking a contract extension in the neighborhood of seven or eight years. At that point, an extension wasn't likely to get done in a timely manner due to the fact that Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has a real aversion to handing out long-term contracts, especially to pitchers.
We know the Mets are more comfortable swimming in the waters of short-to-medium deals, and you can’t blame either side for sticking to their respective stances. After all, Peralta will be 30 when he hits free agency and he’s understandably chasing what could be his last shot at a massive contract and long-term security. As for the Mets, you can’t blame them for being reluctant to commit multiple years to a starter soon to turn 30 given the history of big-money pitchers blowing out their arms. The Corbin Burnes situation with Arizona probably gave every team some pause on that.
But, if you read between the lines, I think there’s some reason to be optimistic about the future between Peralta and the Mets. Firstly, both parties have expressed an openness to continue negotiations once the season has begun. Therefore, there isn’t a rush to get something done before Opening Day.
Also, it may not ultimately take the terms Peralta is seeking. After all, the Phillies and LHP Jesus Luzardo just agreed to a five-year, $135 contract extension, which could be a key comp for Peralta, even though they’re two different pitchers.
Now, Peralta himself spoke about the latest developments on Friday, stressing that all he can do is focus on giving his best every five days. And that’s 100% correct. Peralta should be concentrating on being the frontline starter the Mets so badly need. Everything else can wait. After all, he pays his agent to handle all the off-field stuff for a reason.
To that end, patience will be key here. It would be wise for both player and team to see how the season plays out, and then go from there. If Peralta absolutely dominates and pitches like a true ace, then maybe Stearns would be more willing to meet Peralta somewhere in the middle and go slightly longer on term than he’s normally comfortable with. It is important to remember here that Stearns and Peralta share a close relationship dating back to their time together in Milwaukee, and Stearns clearly holds the righty in high regard. That, coupled with what the Mets had to give up in order to get Peralta, will no doubt serve as motivation to get a deal done at some point.
Again, don’t get hung up on a contract extension not getting done before the start of the regular season. It is more important that Peralta further gets used to the idea of being in New York long-term and, maybe, just maybe, he will be willing to compromise on the length of any potential contract if he ends up falling in love with pitching for the Mets.
It is becoming clear already that Peralta is having quite the impact in the clubhouse, and he seems to be really enjoying his time with the franchise already. If he can pitch at an All-Star level right out of the gate, then I wouldn’t be at all surprised if both sides reopen discussions willing to make sizable compromises in order to get a deal done. We might just have to wait a little longer for that to happen.
And, if Peralta does hit the open market, well, the Mets have the financial resources to outbid pretty much every other team. So, again, I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over these latest reports.
Now, let’s discuss Bichette playing shortstop.
The former Blue Jay will play third for the Mets in 2026, and he’s been getting all of his reps at the hot corner throughout spring training. However, he returned to his old position on Friday as the Mets begin to finalize their roster for the regular season.
Reading the tea leaves, and this is just my personal assessment of the whole situation, I don’t think this has anything to do with Francisco Lindor not being ready for Opening Day. At this point, I feel comfortable saying that it is almost a forgone conclusion that Lindor will be ready to go for next week.
Rather, I think the front office is being incredibly smart when it comes to looking to use Bichette as a backup shortstop.
Firstly, it makes sense from a roster construction standpoint. In this scenario, the Mets wouldn’t need to carry Vidal Brujan, thus allowing them to start the season with both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman on the roster. I dove into this in more detail the other day, but that would make more sense given that Benge has earned the right to make the Opening Day roster, while Tauchman has proven that he can be a really good bench option as well as a mentor to Benge. Plus, he has more offensive upside than Brujan.
However, more importantly, I think this latest development suggests that the Mets are taking a new approach with Lindor, having been served somewhat of a wake-up call this spring with the hamate injury. We all know Lindor is incredibly durable - he’s recorded the third-most games in the majors over the past four years - and he’s done extremely well to get himself ready for Opening Day so soon after undergoing left hamate surgery.
With that said, it is also true that Lindor is 32 years old and his body will become less durable the older he gets. That’s just a fact of life. Therefore, it makes sense to start formulating a plan now to ensure that the Mets get the best version of Lindor for the longest time possible. And that’s why having the flexibility to move Bichette across to shortstop could be key.
Now, Bichette isn’t a Hall of Fame shortstop by any stretch of the imagination, but he is serviceable there, and he won’t have to play the position every day, which should make things easier. And I wouldn’t be too worried about Bichette having to move back over to short here and there while trying to learn a new position at third. He’s a professional and carries himself that way, so I don’t think that should be seen as a major concern.
Plus, with the Mets facing 10 games over the first 11 days of the season, and 19 over the first 21, it would make sense to spell Lindor here and there and give him a breather once or twice a week in the opening month or so of the season. That would allow Lindor a chance to rest and ease back in, especially if he gets off to a typical slow start at the plate. And, with Bichette at shortstop, Brett Baty could then slide over to third.
Again, I don’t think we should get used to seeing Bichette play shortstop all that much, but the ability to slide back over every now and then over the course of a 162-game season could be the newfound key to keeping Lindor fresh and healthy at all times. It is a smart strategy, and it makes perfect sense all round, especially if it then enables the Mets to start the season with both Benge and Tauchman.
Roster flexibility is everything, and Bichette becoming Lindor’s backup as well as the everyday third baseman could open up a lot of potential benefits for the Mets.
Around the League 🚩
The Yankees optioned OF Jasson Domínguez to Triple-A despite a strong spring training (MLB.com)
Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will shift to unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they await trial for a pitch-rigging scheme (ESPN)
The Pirates are in talks with SS and top prospect Konnor Griffin over a long-term extension (MLB.com)
RHP Andrew Painter will be on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster and will make his MLB debut on March 31 (MLB.com)