Bo Bichette rumors give Padres every reason to pressure Mets on trade talks

The Padres needed offense before the Bo Bichette rumors got started over the weekend. But now that his future with the Mets have become a topic, it should give the Padres an opening. 

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that rival executives expect Bichette to opt out of his contract with the Mets after this season, even though that would mean walking away from a ridiculous amount of money. That part doesn’t make much sense. Seems a bit aggressive. Bichette hasn’t exactly lit up New York, and walking away from roughly $79 million after a choppy season to bet on himself would be a wild financial swing.

The Padres shouldn’t build their deadline plan around the idea that Bichette is definitely leaving Queens. They should, however, pay attention to what the rumor says about the Mets.

When a player with Bichette’s contract, uneven production and uncertain role starts showing up in industry speculation, it usually means the roster around him is not as settled as it looks. That’s where the Padres should get involved.

Bo Bichette’s Mets rumors should put the Padres back on the phone

Bichette’s season has been strange enough to make the rumor mill believable, even if the actual opt-out idea is unlikely.

On the surface, the numbers aren’t great. Bichette has hovered around a .239 average with eight home runs, 40 RBI and a .646 OPS through 70 games. 

At the same time, he’s also started to heat up, with a recent 25-game stretch of .293/.327/.535, six home runs and 22 RBI. So maybe the Mets are looking at a player who is becoming more valuable right as his contract situation gets messy.

And that’s exactly the kind of grey area A.J. Preller should feel cozy in. The Padres don’t have a clean path at this season’s trade deadline. They need more bats. They also don’t have a prospect system that allows them to shop like a normal buyer anymore. And that might be their biggest problem when trying to swing a deal this season.

San Diego can’t casually throw around premium prospect packages anymore. That card has already been played too many times. And all they truly have left is Ethan Salas, who we all agree would be the last straw to completely cripple their farm system. No offense to Kash Mayfield, Kruz Schoolcraft, or Jorge Quintana. But none of those guys are anywhere close to sniffing the major league roster just yet. 

And that’s where the Mets come in.

The Padres and Mets have the right kind of messy rosters for a creative trade

The Padres and Mets are not two clean sellers matching up with clean buyers. And that’s why this could work.

Both teams are trying to contend.They both have expensive rosters. And they have players who make sense on paper but might not fit perfectly in practice. Both have reasons to prefer MLB-ready pieces over a standard pile of prospects.

The Padres could use Bichette as the headline name to get the conversation started. But the better question is not simply whether San Diego should trade for Bichette. It’s whether the uncertainty around his future creates enough pressure for both sides to look at a bigger roster reshuffle.

Maybe Bichette is involved. Maybe he isn’t. Maybe the Mets would rather move a different bat like Mark Vientos. The reality is, the Padres should ask the question of how weird the Mets are willing to get. 

That’s where Preller usually lives anyway. And with how awkward and disappointing the Mets’ start has been, it should be a place they’re willing to visit, too.

Yuki Matsui should absolutely be discussed. Jeremiah Estrada is trickier, but he could get attention too. German Márquez, Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito should all be available in the right deal. Not dumped or given away. Just, available.

The Padres are not in position to get sentimental about rotation depth when their offense keeps putting the season in a chokehold. If another team wants innings, experience or upside, San Diego should listen.

And if the Padres want a real return, they cannot act like Michael King is completely untouchable either.

That doesn’t mean they should be eager to move him. But if the Mets or anyone else wants to talk about a real impact bat, the Padres have to be honest about what it costs to get one of them.

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