PORT ST. LUCIE – Francisco Lindor, who wore the glove of his green shortstop, finally deduced what field he belonged to for training Monday at the Mets spring training complex.
“Clearly I don’t have it closed, so I have to figure it out,” Lindor said after the first full team workout.
Neither closed: its future.
Lindor’s arrival at camp has started the clock on a possible long-term extension that will keep him with the Mets throughout his career. Lindor, 27, may become a free agent after this season.
According to Lindor, extension talks have not yet begun, which he reiterated his desire for these discussions to be completed before the opening day. Lindor’s negotiations with Cleveland stalled last season, prompting the team to replace him with Carlos Carrasco at the Mets.
“It simply came to our notice then [to negotiate] and obviously I have to get to know the organization, get to know the people and they have to get to know me, “Lindor said.” If anything comes up, we’ll see in the future. That’s between my agent and Sandy. [Alderson, team president] and the rest of the staff. Conversations have been non-existent. I think it’s too early. “
Acting CEO Zack Scott said, “the sooner the better,” when asked about a potential timeline for starting negotiations.
Lindor is well aware of the $ 340 million 14-year deal that shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. received from the Fathers last week and could serve as a reference. Tatis is five years younger, but he hadn’t even gotten to choose arbitration before accepting the deal.
“Tatis got exceptional treatment for him,” Lindor said. “I am just happy for him. He deserves it, his family deserves it and this shows that the game is heading in the right direction. There are two $ 300 million players on the same team [Manny Machado is the other], so that the game is headed in the right direction.
“I’m happy for him and I’m excited to see him play for the next 14 years. If God wants him to stay healthy and that’s what he does, and especially being in the National League this year, it’s going to be fun to play against him, I’ve never had a chance to play against him. “
Lindor turned down an offer from Cleveland that was believed to be worth more than $ 200 million. And he’s willing to become a free agent if he doesn’t hear the right number of Mets.
“I’ve never been afraid of free agency, so it’s not like I was in a hurry to sign a deal,” he said.
The Mets surrendered Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario, Isaiah Greene and Josh Wolf in the deal with Lindor and Carrasco, so the organization would prefer a long-term marriage to the shortstop, even in a free agent market in the position that could include names like Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Javy Baez and Trevor Story.
“Every time you talk to a player about an extension, look for that midpoint that makes sense for both the player and the club,” Scott said. “You can’t force these things all the time. It takes two parties to try to make this work, and if it doesn’t work for one, you won’t get a deal and that’s fine. Never start a negotiation with a totally expensive type of attitude. You have to think about what is right for the present and future of your club. “
Lindor offensively blamed her under-2020 season for changing her routine in the gym; he says at the end of the season he was tired. Lindor reduced the .258 / .335 / .415 last season with eight homers and 27 runs in 60 games.
“I didn’t give my best in the weight room and that showed the last week of the season that I got tired,” he said. “Is it like that [working harder] during this year’s season to make sure it doesn’t happen again ”.