Much of the discussion about the Mets in Spring Training revolved around the team’s extension negotiations with Francisco Lindor and Michael Conforto. There was more urgency to work out a deal with Lindor, since the star shortstop had set an Opening Day deadline to conclude talks. Conforto, on the other hand, left open the possibility of in-season discourse.
The Mets and Lindor came to terms on a ten-year, $341MM deal just hours before the regular season began. Those negotiations seemed to keep Conforto’s situation on the back burner, as the Mets and the outfielder’s representatives at the Boras Corporation reportedly did not exchange dollar figures during the spring.
Just over a month later, it doesn’t seem the parties have moved any closer to an agreement. Mets acting general manager Zack Scott told reporters (including Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News) that “there’s been no movement on anything contract wise for anyone” on the roster recently. That’s most notable regarding Conforto, although Scott’s statement was broad enough to suggest there’s nothing currently developing with other impending free agents Marcus Stroman or Noah Syndergaard either.
That there’s no movement on an extension in early May is not to say the Mets won’t be able to keep one or more of those players long-term. Scott didn’t suggest the Mets or any of the players were averse to future negotiations. There’s obviously still plenty of time in the season to discussion extensions with any or all of that group. Even if the players do reach the open market, nothing prevents the Mets from winning the free agent sweepstakes, just as the division-rival Phillies brought back J.T. Realmuto in January.
Conforto remains the most prominent of the Mets’ impending free agents. The 28-year-old outfielder placed seventh on MLBTR’s most recent free agent power rankings. Conforto got off to a slow start but has turned things around over the past few weeks, resulting in an overall .226/.368/.355 line over his first 114 plate appearances. That’s a step back from the cumulative .261/.365/.478 (128 wRC+) mark he compiled from 2018-20, but there’s reason to believe his bottom line numbers will improve as the season progresses.
Despite the low batting average, Conforto’s putting the bat on the ball more than ever. His 79.9% contact rate would be a career-best mark and is nearly five points higher than the league average. Meanwhile, Conforto’s swinging strike rate is at a career-low 8.5% and his plate discipline has remained strong, as evidenced by a 14.9% walk rate. His power production is down from recent seasons, but Statcast metrics suggest he’s still barreling balls at an above-average clip and making hard contact at a rate similar to past seasons. Leaguewide power production tends to improve as the year progresses and the weather gets warmer, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Conforto find some more extra-base authority in the coming weeks and months.
Stroman and Syndergaard, meanwhile, have the potential to be among the top free agent starters available. The former is again scheduled to reach the market after accepting the Mets’ $18.9MM qualifying offer last winter. He’s off to a very strong start, working to a 2.10 ERA/3,57 SIERA over his first 34 1/3 innings. Stroman has never gotten huge strikeout totals, but he’s again finding plenty of success by throwing strikes (5.1% walk rate) and keeping the ball on the ground (55.1% grounder rate). Syndergaard is still on track to return from his March 2020 Tommy John surgery in June, giving him a couple months down the stretch to demonstrate he’s back to peak form.
Sox should either sign Bryant or Conforto in the off-season and go all the way for the 2022 World Series title.
Lol please stop
Lol …
Sox don’t need either one to compete for the WS in 2022. Just need Robert and Jimenez to stay healthy cause they’re both better than either one of those two and much cheaper to boot.
And if he was talking about the Red Sox, then I agree with Joey. That’s hilarious. 🙂
I could see the Red Sox signing an outfielder next offseason, there is a big hole in left field unless Duran comes up and fills it someone like Conforto would make sense.
Bryant is better than both but WSox rotation is killer 5 + Kopech. They can go to WS this year. Yermin has adequately replaced Eloy.
Eloy Jimenez is not better than Kris Bryant. Eloy also can’t field worth a damn so that’s not going to change as he eventually slides down to DH.
Why Bryant? they have a great 3B in Devers. Bryant in the OF is not a great Idea. Conforto will resign with the Mets.
Cheap ownership!
How’s that Lindor extension looking Mets fans?
1 month in…?
Up to 87 games of mediocre offense. Wonder how long people will make excuses for him?
Probably when he’s had a full season under his belt
It’s a team sport and we’re in first. So all in all, doing just fine.
Calm down. It’s like 100 ABs into the contract. Relax
His defense alone has made it worth it. Rosario didn’t make 75% of the plays lindor does
@king beas Lindor’s defense has been great, but let’s not kid ourselves…if he doesn’t hit, this contract is a disaster. It doesn’t matter how good he is at defense, he needs to hit better. That being said, I don’t judge mega contracts on 30 games or so. He has plenty of time to get it together and he will.
Yes and no. Yes, the defense will not be the only thing he will be judged by, especially if it’s not Ozzie Smith level. No, his contract would not be a total disaster if defense is his primary source of value. Defense was a liability last season.
Defense first shortstops aren’t 30m/yr, so if his primary source of value is his defense it will be a disaster because they could have found that type of production for much cheaper.
Cmon guys, for real. A month in. He’ll be fine.
Yup, every good defensive short stop costs $30m/yr
Yeah good lord, the defense claim is same thing Cubs fans used when Heyward couldn’t hit. No way in world anyone should pay 184 or 341 million for defense, please stop kidding yourselves. Did Padres pay over 300 mil to TATIS JR FOR HIS DEFENSE???
Also, Franco states Conforto has “turned things around past few weeks”. Not sure which comment was more asinine. Quick check and Conforto is hitting .268 with 1 HR in past 2 weeks! I’m sure pitchers are shaking every time he steps in the box. Lol
Conforto .250 and 2 HR last month if anyone thinks I’m using stats somehow against him. He’s batting 1,000 in breaking up dugout fights though. How ridiculous did Lindor & McNeil look & sound trying to explain that too?
About the same as the Tatis extension. Let’s talk in 2-3 years.
It will certainly be a contract they regret.
Jimthegoat was prob a hs band member
Bit early to say- lets talk again at mid season.
Jimthegoat…..what an appropriate name!
Not sure what Conforto is looking for in terms of an extension but Mets should offer 6yr/105mil. First 2 years at 18 mil with an opt out for Conforto in case he elevates his game. Years 3-5 at 17 mil and a team option for year 6 at 18 mil.
If the Mets had offered that before Springer signed maybe- now you have to use the Springer contract as the guideline.
Conforto is horrible, he strikes out whenever there are runners on base, he only hits when the Mets are up by or down by 10 runs, his only redeeming quality is his defense
I’m not deeming him horrible but I think the Mets should prioritize an extension for Stroman over Conforto at this point