Mets' Bo Bichette still bothered by botched beginning

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Beginning with two hits in his opening 22 at-bats as a member of the New York Mets, Bo Bichette has yet to make up for lost time.

Ending April with a .091 batting average with zero extra base hits, Bichette's high-priced free-agent contract immediately came into question.

By the fans.

By management.

By Bichette, himself.

One of this season's most disappointing performers, Bichette entered Sunday batting .254 with 10 homers and 46 RBI.

With an average annual salary of $42 million over the next three seasons, Bichette received a D+ for his production and lineup presence.

The poor grade can be traced to his start.

Slow start still haunting Mets, Bo Bichette

Bichette is attempting to make up for his lost start with an impressive June, hitting .340 with five homers and 18 RBIs, entering Sunday's game against the NL East-rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.

One thing Bichette will not be able to make up for is the firing of manager Carlos Mendoza. The well-respected skipper was dismissed Friday with the Mets mired in a six-game losing streak.

"It's unfortunate," Bichette said, as reported by SNY Mets. "Mendy was good to me. I guess sometimes the manager has to take the fall for the team underperforming."

Bichette included.

The three-year, $126 million contract Bichette agreed to last offseason included opt-outs after each campaign.

Reports surfaced recently that Bichette will again test free agency next winter.

If the two-time All-Star does not continue his June surge and the Mets remain in last place, Bichette's financial advisors likely would point to their client staying put.

Could he command another $40-plus million deal?

Not likely.

"I really can’t imagine why any executive would think that the season he’s having would be worthy of opting out, considering that he’s going to walk away from so much money that he’s not going to find in free agency from anybody else," MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips said during a recent segment. "Nobody’s going to give him $40 million a year, nobody’s going to give him $30 million a year, in fact, I don’t think anybody’s going to give him $20 million a year in free agency if he keeps going the way he’s putting this season together this year."