SEATTLE (AP) — Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of back spasms and outfielder Alejandro Osuna was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to replace him on the active roster.
The 22-year-old Carter went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts during Friday night’s loss to the Seattle Mariners, and had gone only 4 for 34 since the All-Star break.
He also missed time this season because of a right quad strain. Carter is hitting .238 with four home runs and 21 RBIs this season.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy lamented the loss of Carter ahead of Saturday’s game, especially in conjunction with third baseman Josh Jung continuing to miss time because of calf soreness.
“Yeah, it’s really incredible,” Bochy said. “You look at the number of injuries. I mean, it hasn’t stopped.”
Osuna, 22, has appeared in 29 games for the Rangers this season, hitting .164 with one home run and five RBIs. Additionally, first baseman Jake Burger, who has been sidelined since July 12 because of a left quadriceps injury, was sent to Double-A Frisco to begin a rehab assignment.
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Texas Rangers' Evan Carter follows through on a run-scoring triple in the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter, left, rounds second base past Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies, right, as he sprints home to score on a Jonah Heim single in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter is greeted by teammates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, July 28, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a $126 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.
A two-time All-Star at shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette will move to third base with the Mets, who have Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Bichette has never played a professional game at the hot corner.
Bichette can opt out of the deal after the first or second season to become a free agent again. He would receive $47 million for one year and $89 million for two years, the person said.
The deal does not contain any deferred money and Bichette gets a full no-trade provision. His $42 million average annual value ties for the sixth-highest in baseball history.
It was the latest big development in an eventful offseason for the Mets, who angered fans by letting popular slugger Pete Alonso and star closer Edwin Díaz leave in free agency. President of baseball operations David Stearns also traded two other stalwarts in outfielder Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown players.
New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement.
Although he lacks Alonso's prodigious power, Bichette is a proven hitter with lightning-fast hands and a penchant for line-drive doubles. He would give the Mets a dangerous right-handed bat to help complement lefty slugger Juan Soto.
Because of his inexperience at third, however, Bichette becomes the latest question mark in the field for New York even though Stearns has insisted the team must improve its defense and is determined to do so.
Polanco has one pitch of major league experience at first base, where he and Mark Vientos, previously a third baseman, are the leading candidates to replace Alonso.
New York had planned to start Brett Baty at third, where he provides a strong glove. Baty, who also has experience at second base, is viewed as a versatile defender who could see time in the outfield and perhaps at first.
Or, the Mets could look to trade Baty for pitching or outfield help. Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien is set to play second after arriving from Texas in a November trade for Nimmo.
Bichette batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games for the Blue Jays last year. He homered off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Late last season, Bichette sprained his left knee in a Sept. 6 collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, keeping the infielder out of the lineup until the World Series. He returned for Game 1 against the Dodgers and played second base for the first time in six years.
Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022. He finished second in the major leagues in batting average last season to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
Bichette turned down a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Blue Jays in November, so they would receive an extra draft pick in July after the fourth round if he completes his deal with the Mets.
New York would forfeit its second- and fifth-highest draft picks, along with $1 million in 2027 international signing bonus pool allocation.
Bichette was one of the last remaining big-name hitters on the free agent market after outfielder Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets and agreed Thursday to a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers.
Bichette, who turns 28 in March, has spent his entire career with the Blue Jays since they selected him in the second round of the 2016 amateur draft. He is a .294 career hitter with 111 home runs and an .806 OPS in 748 major league games.
He is a son of former big league slugger Dante Bichette, a four-time All-Star outfielder.
AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and David Brandt and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.
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FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette celebrates his three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)
