Mets’ Bo Bichette emotional as he makes his Blue Jays return with no ‘regrets’ about exit
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TORONTO — Bo Bichette’s eyes moistened as he struggled to find words Monday when asked about his expectations returning to the only home field he had known in the major leagues before this season.
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“This is an opportunity for me to reflect on good times and just be grateful for everything,” the Mets third baseman said before his team faced the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
A key component of a team that reached Game 7 of the World Series before losing to the Dodgers in the 11th inning, Bichette expected a warm homecoming.
Such warmth has sometimes been lacking in his new environment — he started slowly with the Mets this season and even with a June surge took an underwhelming .254/.300/.388 slash line into play.
It’s far less than what the Mets thought they were receiving when they bestowed a three-year contract worth $126 million on Bichette in January.
That deal includes opt outs after the first two seasons.
Bichette homered in Game 7 to put the Blue Jays ahead, but in a classic finale the Dodgers rallied to tie the game on Miguel Rojas’ ninth-inning homer before Will Smith’s blast in the 11th put the Dodgers ahead for good.
Bichette admitted he’s replayed Game 7 in his head.
The Blue Jays haven’t won a World Series since winning back-to-back championships in 1992 and ’93.
“You dream of getting to that situation and opportunity,” he said. “I am so grateful that we had that experience and got there. I don’t know how many times I have replayed it, but it comes to mind every once in a while.”
His chances of receiving another shot on this stage this season are almost completely obliterated.
The Mets entered the day with losses in eight of their last nine games and fell to 35-49.
It’s a free fall that last week cost manager Carlos Mendoza his job.
Under interim manager Andy Green, the team lost two of three games against the Phillies over the weekend.
Bichette said he didn’t have any regrets about how his situation with the Blue Jays ended — with him and the team not close on a deal that would have allowed him to return.
The Phillies were on the verge of landing Bichette before the Mets (who watched Kyle Tucker land with the Dodgers) swooped in and signed him.
“I don’t think there’s regrets,” Bichette said about leaving. “I think it just didn’t line up for whatever reason. It’s tough to live in the past like that.”
The Blue Jays, at 39-45, are enduring their own disappointment. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has been among the underachievers — the slugging first baseman had only four homers entering Monday and a .697 OPS. Guerrero signed a 14-year contract worth $500 million before last season.
“It’s the same story every year, wondering why Vlad is not hitting .400 and leading the league in OPS,” Bichette said. “I know he’s not doing what he is capable of, but every single year he ends up doing something that reminds you how good he is.”
The Mets are hoping the same is the case with Bichette, who began the day with a .932 OPS in June after an anemic start.
“There was an element of not finding a lot of luck early, not finding his timing,” Green said. “What I have had the opportunity to see the last number of weeks, he’s squaring stuff up and he’s got the normal aggression that he’s had his entire career and he’s spraying hits all over the yard and that is fun to see.”