The New York Mets introduced new shortstop Francisco Lindor to the media today via a zoom call. The video has been provided here by Newsday.
Of course, one of the topics discussed early in the conversation was the possibility of a long-term extension. Lindor and his representation at SportsMeter have yet to begin contract negotiations with the Mets. That said, Lindor isn’t against the possibility of staying in New York long-term. Per the Athletic’s Tim Britton (via Twitter), Lindor said, “I live life day by day. I’m extremely happy and excited about what’s happening right now, but I haven’t really sat down and talked to anybody (about an extension). I have never been against an extension…. We’ll see what happens.”
Lindor made clear, however, that if he does sign a new deal, he expects to do so before the seasons begins, per Britton and others. That’s been Lindor’s policy in the past, and he does not intend to change his stance this year. With spring training a little more than a month away, the Mets and Lindor have enough time to hammer out an extension, but they have a smaller window than the Mets might prefer.
Lindor was acquired last week from the Indians after Cleveland failed to reach an extension with their star shortstop. Lindor acknowledged that both sides made a good effort to get an extension done, but it just didn’t happen, per the Athletic’s Zack Meisel (via Twitter). The Indians offer never got as high as $300MM, and any extension Lindor signs will certainly cross that threshold. Despite the breakdown in negotiations and the eventual trade, Lindor had only positive things to say about his time in Cleveland, notes Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY (via Twitter).
i wouldnt be shocked if he pulled a Realmuto and wants to hit the open market unless he gets blown away with an offer.
With all the SS options available, if he gets a reasonable offer, he should take it.
by the same token why does NYM have to blow him away to make him stay if they have so many passable alternatives?
Im sure the Mets will have a great SS in 2021 and a great one in 2022
I don’t think they need to blow him away. That was my point. They should make a reasonable offer (yes, a big reasonable offer) or pivot to one of the other very good options available. The Mets should be in the drivers seat on this.
If he does extend, it won’t be for a reasonable offer
You just made that up. You love to declare things that you have no way of knowing.
I’m with you, @Joe says… .
Lindor is in his own driver’s seat. He’s going to get paid.
Yes, Frankie will definitely get paid. But not the $390 million over 10 years that he is asking for.
Right, he won’t get that anywhere. If he sticks to those guns he’ll languish on the open market just as Realmuto is doing
And why not solaris? If Fernando Tatis Jr can get $320m when he’s 4 years out from FA and has a notable injury history why wouldn’t Lindor get that much?
Tatis,Jr hasn’t gotten anything.
The mets are not in the driver seat. That would suggest he is desperate to sign with the Mets. Kindle has no attachment to them. He’s an elite player. Someone will sign him to big money despite plenty of SS options. If the Mets don’t offer it. He should go elsewhere unless he just decides he loves the Mets that much for some reason
Yea but hes head and shoulders above the other SS.
Realmuto is head and shoulders above McCann. McCann was signed first and is arguably a better fit for the Mets. So, who knows what the Mets decide next year.
In marketability, yes. In just on the field talent, no. He may be marginally better but not head and shoulders better.
If Lindor wants a 10 or 12 year contract I would go after Corea for less money, or someone who doesn’t want to paid into the late 30s. The Stanton contract should always be remembered for the dangers of long term contacts
Correa is way too much of a risk. Lindor has been one of the most durable shortstops in all of baseball the last 3-5 seasons. Correa is the definition of inconsistent.
JoeSays: As much as I disagreed with a different comment you made, I’m 100% in agreement with this take. Fwiw,which I know isn’t much.
Out of curiosity, what did you disagree with?
See if his bat rebounds. He may not actually be even marginally better, uh?
Go ahead and explain how a vastly inferior player is “arguably the better fit”. They just had to settle for a backup catcher because Realmuto didn’t want to be associated with such a loser organization, headed by a white collar criminal.
Realmuto has a much better and longer track record of strong performance than McCann.
JoeSays: I disagreed that Lindor would sign a “reasonable” extension.
Mets don’t want to pay for past performance.
Why though? Him being the best at his position will guarantee him the highest paid contact in FA.
Joe Says: How many MILLIONS of dollars is a “reasonable” offer? I mean he’s already turned down OVER $200,000,000.00 from Cleveland. How many generations does he want to set up? Granted between taxes, agents, charities, and lifestyle choices his salary is cut into a smaller amount than is reported.
Hard to say what’s reasonable. I think he can get $300 million but if he’s intent on getting every last penny, I’d let him go.
I don’t often agree with Yankees fans, but when I do, it is with @Joe Says…
(Insert Dos Equis most interesting man in the world gif or three).
For goodness sake, people need to stop acting like Lindor is God. Tell me one big hit he’s had since game 2 of the ALDS against NY. That grand slam was it. The Tribe had a 2-0 lead after that, and Lindor hasn’t had a big postseason (and very few big regular season) hits since. He’s hit .190 w/RISP over the last 200+ games. He came up small time after time when CLE needed him the most. Heck, his OPS+ was the same as Andres Gimenez this year! And people want to pay him $30 a year for the next decade? What is wrong with people? He’s homer-happy, his chase rate is spiking, his hard-hit rate is cratering, he hits tons of pop-ups and he’s more or less the definition of empty calories at this point. The Mets would be wise to see how he does in New York under a microscope before committing hundreds of millions of dollars to a guy who wilted under the pressure of being the guy in Cleveland.
@Darkside830 Absolutely. I think this is how it plays out. Don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be a Met for life. It just means he wants to bet on himself for the best deal possible.
yeah, not to assume he doesn’t want to stay with NYM, but he also isnt locking himself into staying there simply because they were the ones to trade for him. when you’re going to make ~300M you can sacrifice a little cash for a more optimal location knowing you can make that back later with proper allocation of your money.
Several other locals with better tax advantages than NYC.
However, if he has another down season like 2020, his value will go down dramatically. Plus, bing part of a group of 4 or 5 great shortstops would lessen his value – simple supply & demand. So, it’s in his own best interest to sign now.
Not the same off-the-field marketing advantages as New York City has.
That’s what I was thinking when the Mets signed Beltran years ago and when Wright signed his extension. Off-the-field marketing isn’t what it used to be in baseball. I don’t recall much over the past 20 years. Some Dunkin’ Donuts ads with Sabathia and Santana. David Wright ads for a local Buick dealer. A Geico ad with a caveman mistaken from behind by fans for de Grom. It’s not like basketball where the shoe deals for superstars lead to lines of sneakers and sportswear. It certainly isn’t like what I grew up with when the yearbook was filled with players shilling for one advertiser or another, but, of course, the money is very different now. Some of it it about how baseball has failed to market its star players.
That makes no sense. Try to think about what you’re going to write- “Does this make sense? Do I absolutely have to post illiterate scribble 37 times per day?”
I’m in agreement with too many (two) NYers here for my personal liking.
I need a shower.
@darkside… exactly, there are many top FAs next year, and you could easily argue lindor isn’t even the best of them… my fellow met fans have a fit when I say that, but last three years his offense is good, not elite.. last two years, he’s 6th in WAR among SS alone… yes, excellent defense which ups his value, but as a met fan I’d be just as happy w Corey Seager who will be cheaper IMO… people put too much value in name recognition
Spoken like a guy who has taken the time to peel the onion. Lindor has somehow continued to have this fabulous superstar image despite merely being very good to mediocre over his last couple of years. It has been quite a feat. Only if you watch him closely day to day do you realize that not only hasn’t he progressed as a player in his prime, he’s regressed.
Last year is pretty much a wash for everyone. Lindor’s been good for 7.6 and 4.4 WAR in his last 2 full seasons. Odds are you get something in between that. A 5 WAR SS who plays great defense is nothing to turn your nose up to. But I agree, that it’s pretty insane to give this guy 10-11 years. He’ll hit FA at 28. There’s a very small chance he’s producing for the majority of that contract. Im certainly not signing up for another potential albatross on the back end. You sign him to something like that and you realistically could have tan albatross for the last 4 seasons.
NYC taxes can be brutal, but there is only one Big Apple and Lindor has an opportunity to be one of the biggest faces in the city. The opportunities available to him extend far beyond the baseball field.
Mets would have to blow him away for him to stay in New York. Taxes and cost of living are through the roof there.
He’s only 27. He’ll be expecting something like 10 years @ 300 million. That’s a win/win for both sides !
Yes. With 300M dollars coming his way, he would need to consider the cost of living in NY.
Doesn’t he live in Florida? He will only need a “small” place in NY during the season. I dont think the cost of living will worry him when he signs his new contract and starts picking up large endorsements.
I don’t think an athlete making dollars at that level gives a crap about an apartment running him 10k a month instead of 6. That’s pennies on the dollars when you’re making 30 mil a year.
Yankees will sign him next season
Yankees will sign him next season
Agreed
Yankees will sign him next season
Yankees will sign him next season
You can say that again!
Eddiev2 with another volume take.
@Eddiev 2- No thinking he will resign with the Mets. My guess is $330 million for over 10 years. Great trade for the Mets.
If they pay him $33 million over ten years, I’m hoping I live long enough to see that deal choke the Mets and for people to acknowledge it was the Tribe that not only dodged a bullet, but got the better end of the stick.
Eat me, Yankee
Their owner has the money to pay him. I see no reason for him to battle Correa, Story, Baez, and Seager for a payday. With the money he will get for endorsements in NY, I would imagine they will come to an agreement quickly. My guess 10 years/350 mil with an option to opt out after year five.
I would doubt that Cohen made the deal without the desire to sign him long term. Doubt money would be an issue vs ability to sign Springer. Linder will battle Nimmo for the most smiles.
Won’t negotiate during the season? I never really understood that. Your agent does almost all the negotiations.
Don’t you want to find out more about the city and the organization before being locked in? That may take a few weeks of actually playing for them.
Not true
Some don’t like the distraction. I can respect that
It he and his agent stay out of social media and the regular media, the agent can negotiate with very little to no distraction to the player. The agent and player set the parameters prior to the season and the agent does their thing. If an agreement is made, they can wait till some off days to sit and discuss with the player. Most teams do not run to the media to discuss ongoing negotiations. Most agents do not either.. It is just a posture move by the player. Most will say that but never will turn down a del that meets or exceeds what they were looking for.
Some don’t like the distraction of playing under pressure. The nearer Lindor got to free agency the worse he got. The bigger the moment, the more he shrank. That makes you wonder, will he be able to perform in New York? Or will giving him the financial windfall he craves so badly free up his natural talent? Curious minds want to know.
Some guys don’t want to be hassled with the ongoing negotiations and updates. Im not sure of the exact number of counters, but id wager there’s at least 10-20 counters from both parties hammering out final details in the contract. If youre trying to focus on playing itd be a lot if your agent is hitting you up every week or week and a half to discuss contract details over the course of the season. Contract negotiations a
happen over the course of months usually.
Life is complex. This doesn’t seem like a lot to handle. A player does not have to be heavily involved in his negotiations.
Maybe he wants to be
It’s also a clever urgency tactic to get a deal done before the season.
bk, I strongly believe you are correct. It’s to put pressure on the team that has your rights.
@bk –
You’re killing it on the board today.
negotiations with higher profile players can be a bit more personal.
They can be, but a player gets to choose how involved they wish to be.
A player can choose to micro manage his negotiations or not. If you are concerned it will take too much energy, then let the Agent do the heavy lifting.
@Halo11Fan He just doesn’t want those kind of distractions during the season.
Life is filled with distractions. Most people walk and chew gum every day. Few have an agent that will take most of the distractions away.
Because adults deal with distractions every day, I think it’s a ploy.
I think your analogy is ridiculous. Negotiations can be pretty tough and can sometimes change your opinion of your team’s FO. You don’t want that when you’re trying to get into the playoffs. It’s pretty wise to do it before or after the season.
If I were a ball player then I Would want to be fairly involved in negotiations instead of handing the keys to my baseball and financial future to some guy. I also likely wouldn’t want to be distracted throughout the season with it, this could easily get in a players head when they are on the field
Not only that but setting a hard deadline can be a way to force the other party to up the ante quicker
Von, Tougher than raising a family?
Could you imagine a player saying… “I’m not going to have a family during my playing days because it’s just too big of a distraction.”
I don’t buy the excuse “I won’t negotiate during the season.” I never have. Out of all of life’s curve balls, this seems to be a pretty mild one.
He’s consistent. He’s done this prior. The main advantage is it eliminates it from being a non-stop discussion point before and after every game.
The bigger question is why does anyone care? He’s signed through 2021.
But your family doesn’t work for the organization you’re playing for. If there’s some bad feelings during negotiations, it could tarnish your respecr for your team. You’d rather deal with that in the offseason.
Halo- u don’t understand it ?
Players give organizations these ultimatums to entice them to make an offer. As in you have a few weeks to get this done or we will test the free agent market. It’s a play to get the maximum amount from a team as if they get Mets negotiating- the agent and player will have a major negotiation advantage. It’s the right move
Bot, I understand why they say it. But the reason they do it have very little to do with it being a distraction during the season.
Oh, chit. I want Gimenez back.
As an Indians’ fan, I’d be glad to give him back to you. In fact, I’d be glad to undo this entire trade. It’s a warm, steamy pile from our perspective. We’re told they’re “retooling” and they intend to remain competitive. This trade does not do so.
lololol yes it does. it provides is with a MLB ready SS along w a great prospects for down the road.
we need to focus on our outfield and bullpen.
I’m not happy Lindor is gone, but I’m happy the distraction is over. we all knew it was going to happen.
Like the Bruce Harper distraction was to Washington during his last year in Washington.
The only sad thing was having to give them Carrasco to get anything of value for Lindor. Lindor *might* have fetched Gimenez and one of the prospects on his own, maybe, but the truth is, no team was clamoring for the right to pay Lindor $22m to post an OPS+ of 102 (the same as Gimenez posted by the way) .
I’m glad the page has turned on Lindor. I grew weary of his sad AB’s when it mattered over recent years and in the postseason. Finally the melodrama is over and we can move on. I will miss Carlos, though; when he was on (which was more often than not) he was a pleasure to watch pitch.
cdav45: You get 6 yrs of Gimenez (to fill ss at very low cost) who was an above avg player as a 21 yr old rookie, plus Rosario should plug the hole at 2B for the next 3 yrs + the 2 kids just starting their careers is a pretty big haul for 1 yr of Lindor (who already turned down an extension over $200,000,000.00) and 2-3 yrs of Carrasco.
This is the truth, but few Tribe fans want to accept it, especially guys like cdav45 who are notorious complainers and expect Cleveland to be able to operate in the same manner as the big markets. No matter how many great trades the Tribe makes which only look better and better as the years roll by, guys like cdav45 insist on roasting the team whenever they make a move like this. It’s almost as if the Tribe hasn’t been a consistent winner all this time, eh?
NY is going to have their hands full with Syndergaard and Conforto due to hit free agency next offseason.
Well, if they intend to keep them around.
They should have traded Thor 2 seasons ago
You’re right. They should have. But that ship has sailed.
This is not uncommon. If I remember correctly Piazza signed after the season. If it works out for both sides I don’t think Cohen will have a problem paying to keep Lindor.
If the Mets really want Lindor back and there is a notion that Cohen will pay up, Lindor’s playing with house money. let Cohen put his money where his mouth is or he’ll walk and get other huge offers.
Of course Cohen won’t have a problem paying him, that’s not the point. The real problem becomes when he realizes there’s no direct relationship between wins and paying a guy $35 million a year. Here’s hoping he never wises up. Small markets depend on big markets acting stupid.y. The real fear for smart small market operations isn’t the money that’s arrayed against them, it’s when wisdom accompanies it.
Lindor is a great player but he’s not a $300M+ player like a Betts or Machado. I think he’s more on par to Rendon. And of course he doesn’t want to negotiate during the season, he’s not quite as good as he wants to portray he is.
Lindor is better than machado. Betts I agree is better.
That is very debatable. Machado is really good.
lol Lindor > Machado
Machado career War 39.8. Lindor career War 28.7. OBP is .337 to .346. Machado certainly gives you more run production. Both are really good players that can be compared, but you cannot definitively state that Lindor is better than Machado. I don’t buy it, and I love Lindor.
Machado also had more than 1500 plate appearances under his belt before Lindor made his debut. If you look at their career fWAR/600 plate appearances, Lindor has a career 4.9 mark and Machado has a 4.4 mark. In terms of wRC+, wOBA and OPS, they’re almost identical hitters.
@mlb1225 definitely a factor, but i still don’t flat-out say Lindor is better than Machado. I wouldn’t say the opposite either. They’re in the same boat IMO. Both great defenders who can really hit.
Personally, I’d take Lindor. They’re very close offensively and defensively, but Lindor is more consistent and is a better base runner.
That’s a fair statement. I prefer Lindor as well. I just wouldn’t stat it as fact. Too close.
Maybe you guys should look at their numbers the last 5 years. I’d take machado. Even in frankies mvp type season in 18’ machado had just as good if not better offensive numbers while switching leagues. And manny ain’t no slouch on defense, frankies got machado on age and a premium position but machado can play SS if needed to a very respectable level while still mashing.
Which isn’t to say I don’t think Lindor is good either. They are borth $300M+ players in a normal market.
Last three years he ranks 8th in fWAR. He’s a fantastic defender at a premium position and is a decent hitter as well. Not to mention he just turned 27.
Rendon is making 35 million a year.
In other words, give me $300 million now or I’m hitting the market following the 2021 season.
Hopefully for Mets case, it won’t be wasted money. He will seek a huge contract and deserves one. Sometimes people let that ruin their career
I would wait on him, what if he doesn’t gel in NY or God forbid he gets hurts, than you’re stuck, especially when the Mets have Conforto and Syndergaard to pay, unless they try to trade Syndergaard BUT in my opinion when Syndergaard comes back I would look into trading Stroman I don’t think he’s worth $20 mil or so going forward.
If Lindor walks I’d be very surprised. Some of you need to learn who Cohen is.
We don’t really know exactly who he is yet, though. He may be willing to spend, yet still realize that 300 million plus is too much for any one player.
We know exactly who he is- a white collar criminal that owns a garbage franchise with a long history of bad moves and losing.
lolzmets You are the most negative commenter on here, but I fully admit, I found this hilarious. I don’t agree, but it’s still awesome.
Lol
C’mon, @metsfan22.
You act like you had lunch with him this afternoon. The reality is you – like all of us – have no idea how he’ll be as an owner.
I predict he’ll spend his first year or so. Then spending will regress to a point a bit above the Wilpons. This is because I actually have looked into how he runs his financial empire. Not to mention that’s SOP with new ownership groups. $100 says I’m right, man.
Trust me. We all understand you hero worship the guy. But do yourself a favor & stop pretending you have some inside knowledge. You do not. That also is something we all understand, as well.
🙂
Every new owner comes in beating his chest and says he’s going to spend, spend, spend to be a winner. Then he begins to realize this doesn’t correlate with anything, and get sick and tired of paying guys $30m a year to hit .258.. If Cohen is smart, he’ll begin to realize this and start acting like every other owner.
Please explain why this isn’t true.
That would kinda suck if he doesn’t sign the extension with the Mets, gave up their future MIF prospects for him. Maybe Frankie didn’t truly want to go to NYM but it’s getting him out of Cleveland for now. Guess we’ll wait and see.
Maybe it’s just me but I’m kinda getting deja vu with the Mets new ownership and when the clippers got their new owner. Lots of money to spend, very outspoken, got some big name players through trades and will get another big name though FA or possibly picking up Bryant from the cubs that amounts to a ton of hype. I personally still don’t put them on par with La or SD but I think if they sign springer they’re definitely the favorites out of the east on paper, still gotta play the games and assuming no one gets a major injury.
The opportunities for marketing revenue in ny are probably quite a bit better than Ohio. The team around him is already very good and should only get better as I believe Cohen continually acquires whatever pieces he needs. Probably still another 2 pretty big pieces to add in the next month. They may even depend on how quickly Lindor extends. There has to be an eye on future team payroll which is unknown until Lindor is extended.
I’m assuming the Mets would want to extend Lindor but if they can’t work one out, Mets will have a plethora of FA SS options next offseason.
Not a Mets fan, but I hope they sign him to an extension. I like when a team tries to turn things around and makes serious upgrades. That said, I doubt he signs before ST. There’s just so much uncertainty with the new CBA coming up that it’s hard to envision many teams offering huge deals, even to bona fide stars.
This may sound crass, but here’s hoping he never sees $300 million…he should be thinking about security NOW not after he gets hurt. He is simply being foolish along with his agent.
If the talk of Fernando Tatis Jr. getting $320m with multiple out-outs when he’s 4 years out from FA and has an injury history are indeed true, then that can’t be good for NYM’s chances.
After 2021 Baez,Correa,Seager and Story are all FAs. Supply and demand should tell Lindor to pay very close attention to a Mets extension offer.
Should also tell the Mets that extending him really isn’t necessary
Trade no so great if he doesn’t sign
I’m thinking Lindor believes he is top of the class when it comes to the other soon to be Free Agent SS. One look at Seager’s and Correra’s medical files and No Team will commit big numbers on a long term deal. Haven’t studied Story’s park adjusted numbers, but Baez looks like he is the only competition Lindor has. Lindor is a special talent but I don’t think his skill set continues to improve after age 34 season. Ask the Tigers how they feel about Cabrera?
I’d be surprised if he accepts an extension for anything less than $350m.
Ha-ha-ha-ha…I can’t wait to see the team willing to choke on THAT!
9yrs/101mm
He already turned down double the money already from Cleveland. WHy would he settle for half of that now?
Because the Indians, like Chippy Chipperson, are B-R-O-K-E.
There’s going to be significant pressure from the MLBPA for Lindor to accept nothing short of a record-setting, blockbuster deal, be it now or through free agency. Lindor was prepared to do just that in Cleveland. That certainly won’t change in NY, especially with the wealthiest man in all MLB a new owner there. The Mets just traded for Lindor with the full intention of signing him. Lindor’s negotiating position is significantly better than it has been since his career started. A 10/300 won’t do it. Not at his age, skill, position, his brand, the trade, the NY market, and Cohen the owner.
Lindor has been prepared to walk, and play out 2021. Add in the mystery of a new team and the media spotlight in NY, and I don’t see him lowering his demands. He’s going to increase them, knowing the Mets will feel compelled to match them.
12/37.5. $450M.
Lordy, for a guy who hit .258 this past year?! Who has hit .190 w/RISP over his last 200+ games? What are you smoking?
If Cohen signs him for that, it will soon sober up Stevie from ever doing THAT again.
If you don’t think 10/300 gets it done this year, what do you think another .250 season with an injury here or there gets him next year? That’s the risk.
A year from now, owners will be looking at his 2020 year and, if 2021 is similar, his financially leverage will be much less than it is right now.
I think everyone should wait to find out what the new CBA will be. Remember after this season baseball owners and players must agree to a new CBA. That’s why talk of long term contracts and how much teams have to spend long term is almost ridiculous. We are facing the potential for a lockout or strike. I think this is a factor in this years slower market.
He looks so good in a Mets uniform, and MLB needs an international player to be the “face of baseball” and continue to encourage diversity like the NFL and NBA.
Lindor is ready and willing to be that person after Trout has repeatedly refused to promote the sport or take a bigger role. Unfortunately, Trout’s “aww shucks, gee whiz” Jim Thome-like kindness is kind of a disadvantage to younger fans getting into the game.
The face of baseball needs to be a player with a little more swag and flashy play. Players like Lindor, Tim Anderson, and Fernando Tatis need to be promoted EVERYWHERE! Baseball can and should do this right.
I’m all for players getting what they deserve but these contracts are becoming absurd. Almost half a billion on a player like trout is disgusting imo. let that sink in to run, catch and hit a ball. I bet a lot of players from the 70’s through the early 2000’s are kicking them selves wishing they played in today’s markets( pre covid) Guys like smolts, Seaver, Maddux and countless stars would be multi millionaires get insane contract in their prime
The money is based upon how much money can the player earn your franchise while in your uniform. It is an entertainment business just like movies, TV, and the music business. You get paid to put butts in the seats or to watch the player play on TV, to buy merchandise related to the player, and the like. If a player will allow your team to make a profit over what the player earns, then the player is worth the money. However, as @metsie1 said above, with the new CBA on the horizon, potential strikes, lockouts, and Covid-19 looming over everything, no way to say at the moment how much any player would be worth to a team to be in their uniform. If fans are not allowed in and viewership continues to dwindle,, teams will not be so willing to keep paying out huge contracts. If this were pre Pandemic, and fans could be in the stands with no restrictions, Lindor would be worth a huge contract like Machado got because he would sell a lot of tickets and merchandise for a team. The stars in the past unfortunately did not have the opportunities to share in the profits that today’s teams make. No one had huge local TV deals to boost inc9ome to pay players. They guys that you mentioned would all be paid huge money if they were in their primes now. Those names you mentions all made a ton more than guys like Drysdale, Kofax, Mays, Aaron, etc. because the finances of the game even that short of time prior were even less. The teams were dependent on ticket sales at that point for most of their revenue.
I think he deserves and will get 10 years/$375M. That takes him through his age 35 season.
I don’t see how he could get much more or the market wouldn’t push it there were he to hit free agency and I don’t see how teams haven’t become wary of those last 3-5 seasons after a guy hits 34-35 years old.
Not saying that every team in baseball wouldn’t be extremely happy with him as their starting short stop, but the market seems pretty set for a player of his caliber. It’s really about years moreso than dollars, right?
Normally he’d earn around $27.5M in 2021 (pro rated), and he’d command around $35-36M per season on the open market and he’ll be 36 at the end of a 9 year free agent deal, which is about as old as guys get and are still effective at his position and with his kind of offensive numbers, so just combine those and give him that, plus a fatter than usual signing bonus to account for the deflated pro rated salaries in 2021 and possibly 2022, just like Mookie Betts.
I think he gets a $25M signing bonus to provide him with guaranteed money that solidifies his wealth, then a $26M salary for the season, minus whatever may get pro rated, unless the league or individual teams figure out ways to pay the full salaries of their players. Seems like Steve Cohen can do this.
After that you give him $36M per season over 9 years and call it a day.
Absolutely ridiculous to pay Lindor that when there are other equally viable alternatives. Do you want to win games or just beat your chest over how much money you can set on fire?
If Lindor was hands down the best shortstop in the game, he could write his own ticket. I believe over the last three years that he ranks out around #5 at short. His big numbers are based on the fact that yes, he’s very good, but also that he was leading the league in plate appearances. It’s unrealistic to think that stays true for the next 5 -7 years. I think he gets a front loaded contract similar to Harper, maybe heavier in incentives.
Seems like a realistic discussion. If we are going to talk extension, here is the deadline. Basically, if you want me, come get me before the season starts. Ok Mets, get it done if you don’t want him for just one season. You have two months, it should only take 10 days.
Simply no way that trade gets made with no “tampering” and talk behind scenes for longer term…but Lindor is smart and was prob prepped well to act like the subject has not even been brought up.