“It’s a joke”: Bo Bichette’s $126 million signing sparks backlash as ex MLB player slams his press conference remarks

Bo Bichette is now a New York Mets player after agreeing to a three-year, $126 million contract on January 20, 2026. The 27-year-old shortstop, who became a star with the Toronto Blue Jays, picked the Mets over a seven-year, $200 million offer from the Philadelphia Phillies.

At his first press conference at Citi Field in New York, Bichette said it was “very obvious” he wanted to join the Mets because they are “looking to win every single year.” His comments surprised many fans and baseball analysts, especially in Philadelphia, where the Phillies believed they were close to signing him. Bo Bichette’s decision and words spread fast across baseball. Some believe he followed the higher yearly pay, while others think he truly sees the Mets as the best place to win now.

His remarks clearly upset parts of the Philadelphia baseball community.

Ben Davis calls out Bo Bichette’s comments after Mets signing

On January 23, 2026, former Major League Baseball player and Phillies broadcaster Ben Davis spoke on 94WIP radio in Philadelphia about what Bichette said at his press event. Davis made strong remarks about the Mets and Bo Bichette. He said comments like “we’re committed to winning every year” sound like BS when said about the Mets, a team with an up-and-down recent history.

Davis yelled that it feels wrong to act like the Phillies are not trying to win. “They give off the vibe that they’re just a losing organization,” Davis said, and added, “Blow that smoke somewhere else.” Davis also pointed out that Bichette might have chosen the Mets because they offered more money per year, about $42 million per season compared to the Phillies’ average of about $28.6 million per year.

He said, “It’s a joke. You’re just going to go where you get the best deal for you and get the most money,” and added that calling the Mets a winning team was an exaggeration. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski admitted losing Bichette was a “gut punch” to the club. He said the team thought they were close to a deal, but nothing was finalized when Bichette picked the Mets’ offer. Dombrowski spoke about how disappointing it was for the Phillies on January 20, 2026, but also said the team had to move forward. After Bichette signed with the Mets, the Phillies quickly re-signed catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract to keep him in Philadelphia. Realmuto’s deal came just hours after the Bichette news and helped soften the blow for Phillies fans. Bo Bichette’s remarks at his press event meant to be positive instead triggered strong reactions and made this one of the most talked-about moments in early 2026 MLB free agency.