Brett Baty

Robert has been largely ineffective the last two years and has quite the injury history, but he's 28, he's a legit center fielder and he has a career 111 OPS+. This is definitely worth a shot for the Mets, who will be responsible for paying $22 million for one year or $40 million for two. They'll presumably handle him better than a White Sox organization that mostly expected position players to play through injury. Tyrone Taylor had topped the Mets' depth chart in center, but now he'll serve as the fourth outfielder he's meant to be. He'll presumably be on the short side of a platoon with Brett Baty in left initially, assuming the Carson Benge now starts off in Triple-A. With Acuna, who was out of options, departing, Ronny Mauricio seems poised for a utility role.

Bichette will make $42 million per year, with opt outs after each season, and he gets a full no-trade clause. The Mets intend to deploy Bichette at third base, a position he's never played before as a pro. That'll likely result in Brett Baty logging outfield time, though he should remain very much a part of the Mets' plans. Bichette is a little weaker of a fantasy bet in Citi Field than he would have been in Philly or back in Toronto, but hitting next to Juan Soto in the top-third of the order is still pretty nice. He's a borderline top-10 fantasy shortstop.

A quick response from the Mets after missing out on Kyle Tucker sees them bringing in Bichette for third base. That seemed like it was going to be Brett Baty's spot, but he could now get some work at first and DH; he still ought to be in the lineup against righties one way or the other. Bichette had seemed most likely Philadelphia bound until the Mets stepped up their offer. Perhaps the Phillies could now use their spending power to make a run at Framber Valdez.