It’s gonna be a nail-biter, folks.
With just over 48 hours until the first pitch of the 2021 MLB season and the official end of the extension negotiating window between the New York Mets and Francisco Lindor occurring simultaneously, everyone’s getting a little antsy.
Reports are swirling, as they usually do at these junctures. And they’re not necessarily the most comforting of news breaks.
Going from the presumed home stretch of an agreement — never forget the ravioli and chicken parm — to a two-year-$60 million wide gap with both sides digging their heels in over the course of just a few hours has left all parties involved dazed.
On Monday, we learned the Mets extended the 27-year-old superstar a take-it-or-leave-it offer of $325 million over 10 years, according to multiple reports. Lindor’s representatives then reportedly countered with a 12-year, $385 million offer of his own.
High drama…
Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News — who was first with Lindor’s counteroffer on Monday night — notes that the Mets were caught off-guard by Lindor’s last proposal.
Per Thosar, the team was under the impression that Lindor’s final price tag would come in lower than that of Dodgers’ outfielder Mookie Betts, who agreed to a 12-year, $365 million deal with Los Angeles last year.
There’s a lot to digest regarding any potential long-term mega deal. But this seems like a situation that can be worked out. Lindor and the Mets aren’t miles apart. Third and long with an impending blitz, maybe.
If Lindor’s offer were to be accepted, the Mets would be paying him through his age-39 season at an annual average value of just over $32 million per season. In comparison to the $32.5 AAV he would be receiving through his age-37 season in New York’s proposal, that’s palatable.
Since the start of 2017, Lindor’s hit .276/.341/.503 with 111 home runs, a 14.2% strikeout rate, and 14.0 wins above replacement while missing a total of just 26 of Cleveland’s 546 scheduled games over that span.
His +52 outs above average over that span is tied for second-most in the majors among shortstops with Andrelton Simmons (Nick Ahmed, +64 OAA).
Backing up the Brinks truck for this guy seems like a safe bet, no?
Lindor’s camp and the Mets penthouse occupants are going to do their dance. It’s the natural progression of these types of scenarios. That’s a lot of money at stake for no one to try their hand at a little haggling.
New York standing firm is to be expected. Again, that’s a lot of money, and the deeper into Lindor’s career they’re committing to only increases the risk against the ballclub.
Lindor looking to maximize the returns on his highly specialized set of skills is also par for the course. Can’t blame anyone for attempting to secure what they’re worth in the prime of their professional career.
In the big picture, this is a deal that kinda-sorta has to get done. Forget about the haul New York sent Cleveland for Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. There are more pressing matters than that.
Plus, Brodie Van Wagenen shipped off just as much talent for a quarter of the return during his forgettable tenure in Flushing.
The Mets have an unbelievably solid core in place that, with the assistance of a player and leader of Lidnor’s ilk, could accomplish incredibly special things.
If Francisco Lindor helps secure a few World Series titles for the Mets over the next 12 seasons, every penny the Mets had invested in him would be worth it.
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