Why Mets' latest splurge solidifies them as favorites to win Freddy Peralta sweepstakes

The floodgates are open. After the Los Angeles Dodgers handed top free agent bat Kyle Tucker a four-year, $240 million deal, stealing him away from the New York Mets, who were expecting to land the former Chicago Cub, David Stearns and Steve Cohen have pivoted to another top-tier free agent. The former Milwaukee Brewers' President of Baseball Operations, Stearns, and the incredibly wealthy owner of the Mets, Cohen, have agreed to a three-year, $126 million contract with infielder Bo Bichette.

Bichette was expected to land with the Philadelphia Phillies, who reportedly offered him more guaranteed money on a longer-term deal, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, but after the Mets missed out on Tucker, they pivoted to the former Toronto Blue Jays' shortstop and offered him a massive three-year contract with plenty of flexibility; in addition to his $42 million salary in 2026, Bichette has the luxury of opt-outs after each of his first two years under contract with New York.

The contract has larger implications for the Brewers than another All-Star going from the American League to the National League and making the competition for playoff spots (more specifically Wild Card spots) more difficult for the Brew Crew. Prior to signing Bichette, the Mets were reportedly one of the leading candidates to land Freddy Peralta in a blockbuster deal this offseason. MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported last night -- after the Tucker signing -- that the Mets remain very interested in Peralta, as do their cross-town rivals, the New York Yankees.

Today's signing of Bichette only increases the likelihood that Matt Arnold and his former boss, Stearns, will agree to a trade that sends Peralta to New York in the coming weeks.

Mets' surplus of infielders and need for inexpensive starting pitching makes them the favorites to land Freddy Peralta this offseason

Let's start with how Bichette's addition to the Mets' roster changes their infield picture. Heading into the offseason, the Mets had an infield group consisting of Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Jeff McNeil at second base, former top prospect Brett Baty at third base, and either Mark Vientos or a reunion with Pete Alonso in free agency at first base. On January 16, the picture looks much different.

Stearns traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien. Then, Pete Alonso took a five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles rather than staying in New York. The Mets supposedly replaced Alonso by adding Jorge Polanco in free agency, though he has never played first base in his 12-year MLB career. With an infield picture that was looking more and more crowded, Stearns sent McNeil to the Athletics for a 17-year-old pitching prospect. Even still, no clear spot remained on the infield for Bichette, but that matters not to the big-market Mets. After the signing was reported, Heyman noted that the Mets plan to play Bichette at third base, with Lindor, Semien, and Polanco presumably rounding out the infield.

That means both Baty and Vientos are seemingly without everyday jobs next season despite each of them having promising starts to their careers. Meanwhile, several Brewers insiders have wondered whether or not Milwaukee could use an upgrade at third base this offseason, with some concern over how Caleb Durbin will follow up his excellent 2025 campaign. Many see Durbin as more of a utility infielder in the future despite the fact that he was a Rookie of the Year finalist as a third baseman in 2025. With the Mets now holding a surplus of infielders, it's possible that Arnold and company use Peralta to try and acquire one of Baty or Vientos and add some much-needed power to their lineup.

Adding to the likelihood is the fact that the Mets still need starting pitching, but after handing a $42 million salary to Bichette, they are unlikely to add an expensive top-tier free agent like Framber Valdez. That said, doubting the Mets' ability to spend money is never a wise move. Regardless, there's no doubt that adding Peralta on the $8 million salary he's owed in 2026 would be a far cheaper move than adding a pitcher of similar caliber on the free agent market.

So will the combination of the Mets' desperation and their need for cheap starting pitching lead them to overpay for one year of Freddy Peralta? Only time will tell, but today's news certainly seems to indicate that a blockbuster between Arnold and Stearns is more likely than it was at this time yesterday.