Bo Bichette facing big contract call, NL East roundup

There were no games on the schedule for NL East clubs yesterday, but the off-field storylines around the New York Mets and Washington Nationals kept the division in the spotlight.

Bo Bichette and the Mets staring at a major opt-out call

MLB Trade Rumors frames Bo Bichette’s upcoming decision as the biggest contract option question of the offseason. The two-time All-Star shortstop chose a shorter-term pact when he signed with the New York Mets, locking in what the site describes as a massive $42 million average annual value over three years.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the structure of the deal allows Bichette to re-enter free agency after either of the first two seasons. The outlet is now polling readers on whether he should exercise that opt-out. For a Mets club that finished 74-88 and is built with Bichette as a key pillar, the outcome of that decision will shape how aggressively they can plan the next phase of their roster.

Nationals in the middle of trade speculation

In Washington, first base and the recent past deadline are drawing attention. MLB Trade Rumors relays that the Nationals were actively shopping Luis García Jr. at the trade deadline before ultimately sending him to the New York Yankees. Joel Sherman of The New York Post, cited by the site, reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks were the runners-up in pursuit of García.

Sherman then speculates, via MLB Trade Rumors, about a possible follow-up move in which the Yankees could consider flipping García to the Diamondbacks for a reliever, though that scenario remains hypothetical at this stage.

MLB Trade Rumors is also running a poll on catcher Keibert Ruiz’s future. The site notes that after winning the World Series in 2019 and then shifting into rebuild mode, Washington sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 and received four prospects in return, including Ruiz. The Nationals viewed him as a long-term answer behind the plate, but the current question posed is whether, given where the franchise stands, they should now explore his trade value.

At 77-85, the Nationals remain in transition while the Atlanta Braves (94-68) and Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) sit atop the division. With no games played yesterday, the NL East picture is being reshaped more by looming contract calls and trade debates than by on-field results.