Bo Bichette’s transformation into a 3rd baseman is already underway.
The previous shortstop, who not too long ago arrived to the Mets on a three-year contract price $126 million, labored out in entrance of supervisor Carlos Mendoza on Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., three weeks earlier than place gamers are on account of report back to spring coaching.
The early evaluations had been constructive, Mendoza advised Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on “The Present” podcast.
“He’s an athlete,” Mendoza mentioned. “We’re taking a look at a man that has performed shortstop just about his entire profession. And simply watching him right now, transferring round third base, taking floor balls, creating angles after which the throws to first base, I used to be telling him, ‘It appears to be like such as you performed there earlier than.’ ”
Bichette, who performed within the 2025 World Sequence with the Blue Jays, isn’t the one Mets participant studying a brand new place: The crew additionally signed Jorge Polanco to a two-year contract price $40 million to maneuver to first base, a place that grew to become open after Pete Alonso accepted a five-year deal price $155 million with the Orioles.
Polanco has just one profession look at first base. Brett Baty (displaced at third with Bichette’s signing) and Mark Vientos additionally determine into the equation at first base.
“[Polanco] is a man that got here up as a shortstop, enjoying in the midst of the diamond,” Mendoza mentioned. “He strikes round as nicely and the identical factor with Baty and Vientos, guys who have gotten some expertise there. However I really feel prefer it’s going to take a while getting used to some sport motion.”
Mendoza was additionally requested about crew chemistry — The Publish reported in November that Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto had a frosty relationship. Soto final yr was in his first season in Queens after signing a file $765 million contract.
“It’s two very completely different guys,” Mendoza mentioned. “Soto could be very businesslike. He’s a man that is available in, he’s going via his course of. Lindor is extra outgoing, like what you see on the sphere — the massive smile. And that man, whether or not we win or lose, goes to be the identical man. He cares. Clearly, they each care. And I really feel like due to who they’re individually, it’s a relationship that they care about profitable. They care about one another. They care about their teammates. However they’re two completely different personalities.”
Mendoza could have a brand new arm atop his rotation following the commerce final week that introduced Freddy Peralta from the Brewers for Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
“Everyone knows the kind of arm, the kind of pitcher that [Peralta] is, a man that’s pitching on the entrance of the rotation,” Mendoza mentioned. “However as quickly as we acquired him, I received on the telephone with lots of people which were round him, and all people retains telling me he’s the standard of the individual, how good of a human being he’s and the way a lot he cares about his teammates, about individuals. And that was one of many issues that he talked about to me after I received on the telephone with him. It’s like, ‘I’m planning on reporting early to Port St. Lucie so I can begin assembly a number of the brand new faces.’ That goes to point out you the kind of man he’s.”
Mendoza was spared amid a training workers shake-up following the nosedive that stored the Mets from reaching the playoffs final season. He will likely be coming into the ultimate yr of his contract.
“I’ve a fantastic alternative in entrance of me,” Mendoza mentioned. “You get an proprietor that’s prepared to place all of the sources with a view to accomplish the final word aim. And you’ve got a entrance workplace that continues to make strikes to proceed to enhance our roster. And now it’s as much as us, , and me because the supervisor on this scenario is a good alternative. I do know the place I stand.”
