Matt Loede
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The New York Mets made a bold move last Thursday, snagging 27-year-old, four-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians for a number of prospects.
Lindor spoke to the media in the Big Apple for the first time Monday via a Zoom call, and right away, the topic of a long-term deal with the Mets came up.
“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 said via The Athletic’s Tim Britton.
Here's a sampling of Francisco Lindor discussing his appetite for a contract extension, including a comparison to the situation Mookie Betts faced a year ago: pic.twitter.com/BA7U4IsZDx
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) January 11, 2021
Lindor evading the subject of a long term deal is nothing new, as it’s part of the reason that his old team, the Cleveland Indians, felt that they had no choice but to trade him. Otherwise, he was heading into the final year of his contract and would then become a free agent.
The policy that Lindor has set for himself is not to negotiate an extension once the season begins. If anything gets done, it has to happen prior to the first pitch of the season.
Many were expecting Lindor to get a deal over $300 million, a number that the Indians simply could not afford.
While the Mets and new owner Steve Cohen could open the pocketbooks to pay that amount, Lindor might just bank on himself and wait to go on the market after the 2021 season.
If he likes what the Mets have to offer, he can always go back. If not, he’ll have the freedom to play wherever he likes in 2022 and beyond.
