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Let's face it: next season is going to be a torrid one for the Philadelphia Phillies-New York Mets rivalry, and the key factor in all the brouhaha is the signing of former Blue Jays player Bo Bichette by the Queens-based outfit.
Bichette agreed to sign in New York when most rumors had him headed for Philadelphia, and it was Ben Davis, a commentator covering Phillies games for NBC, who opened the hostilities by taking potshots at Bichette and the Mets.
Bichette preferred the Mets' offer of $126 million for three years, while the Phillies offered him $200 million over seven years.
Davis, frustrated by Bichette's decision to prefer the Mets' offer to that of the Phillies, mentioned that the Mets have a loser's mentality, while adding that Bichette's choice was motivated solely by money and not by the strong possibility of winning a World Series, as the latter mentioned during his introduction to the New York press.
Basically, he believes in a panic signing.
https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/2014827988882219160
For Davis, it's clear that the $42 million a year that Steve Cohen and David Stearns offered Bichette made the difference, and that no player will admit that dollars and not winning determine the destination.
Davis added that the whole thing seemed like a tasteless joke, and he likely doesn't wish either Bichette or the Mets any success in the run-up to next season.
https://twitter.com/nypostsports/status/2014737271182745829
Still, the Mets improved their fortunes, while the Phillies responded to Bichette's signing in New York by re-signing catcher J.T. Realmuto for three seasons to the tune of $45 million, a small consolation prize considering he's not at the peak of his career.
Phillies fans are frustrated, and it's clear from Davis' comments. He speaks for thousands of fans who have been disgusted by their favorite team's stagnation since the end of last season.
All is not well in Philadelphia at the moment. Let's not forget that Dave Dombroski, the team's president of baseball operations, questioned Bryce Harper's ability to become an elite player once again, undoubtedly wanting to whip his big No. 3 into shape for next season. For the moment, it's Dombrowski who looks bad, not being able to deliver the goods, i.e. improve his line-up to compete adequately with the Mets and Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies will be good, but will they be good enough to win Nationals East honors again?
If Davis' words are anything to go by, the games between the two clubs will be spiced up with a certain amount of animosity, and the quality of the show should only improve as a result.
I can already imagine Bichette hitting a few resounding home runs against the Phillies' relievers, sealing the outcome of some of the duels between the two teams.
This content was created with the help of AI.
