Mets have officially announced Lindor’s extension. The New York Daily News’ Deesha Thosar offers the release here.
MARCH 31: The impasse has ended. The Mets have allegedly agreed to a ten-year, $341 million deal agreement with star shortstop Francisco Lindor, which will cover the 2022-31 seasons. Lindor will receive a $21MM singing bonus, followed by fixed $32MM wages for each year of the contract. According to the deal, $5 million in annual pay will be deferred and paid annually from 2032-41, for a total of $50 million in deferrals. The agreement also includes a 15-team no-trade clause with no opt-out clauses. SportsMeter represents Lindor.
The contract is a significant move for both the Mets and the sport as a whole. In an offseason trade with the Indians, New York acquired Lindor, one of the sport’s brightest players, at the age of 27. Now, they’ll make sure he spends the most of his career in Queens.
METS EXTEND FRANCISCO LINDOR. FLUSHING, N.Y., April 5, 2021 — The New… | by New York Mets | Medium
Lindor was Cleveland’s tenth overall draft pick in 2011. He soon became one of the game’s top prospects and advanced fast through the minors for a high school draftee, reaching the majors in June 2015. Lindor debuted that season as the Indians’ everyday shortstop, posting a.313/.353/.482 slash line and finishing second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
That stunning debut paved the way for four straight seasons of stardom. Between 2016 and 2019, Lindor hit.284/.346/.495 (118 wRC+), with 118 home runs and 81 stolen bases. That is excellent offensive production from any player, but it is especially impressive coming from a shortstop who is largely considered as one of the game’s best defenders. Lindor’s two-way performance earned him an All-Star selection and a top-15 finish in AL MVP voting each of those years.
During the abbreviated 2020 season, production did dip slightly. Lindor appeared in all sixty games for Cleveland but hit a lifetime low. 258/.335/.415 (102 wRC+). However, it appears that the average showing is more of a small sample anomaly.
During the abbreviated 2020 season, production did dip slightly. Lindor appeared in all sixty games for Cleveland but hit a lifetime low. 258/.335/.415 (102 wRC+). However, it appears that the average showing is more of a small sample anomaly. Lindor maintained his usual strikeout percentage of 15.4% (much lower than the league average of 23.4%), while earning walks in a career-high 9.0% of his plate appearances. Lindor’s power production decreased slightly, while his average exit velocity of 89.9 MPH stayed consistent.
Clearly, the Mets are unconcerned about the modest offensive slump. They traded away four highly regarded young players (infielders Amed Rosario and
Andrés Giménez and prospects Isaiah Greene and Josh Wolf) to acquire him and starting Carlos Carrasco from the Indians in January. They’re following it up with one of the most lucrative contracts in MLB history.
Francisco Lindor UNLEASHES a Homer for the Lead 🔥 – YouTube
The Mets have hoped to work out an agreement with Lindor since acquiring him, but it appeared only a few hours ago that the great infielder was on his way to the free agent market. Lindor has made it clear that he would not negotiate an extension during the regular season, leaving the parties with little time to reach an agreement before tomorrow’s season opener. The Mets originally proposed a ten-year, $325 million contract, but Lindor countered with a twelve-year, $385 million offer. With the clock ticking, both sides budged slightly from their original.
That does not mean he performed poorly. His contract is the third-largest in MLB history by total guarantee. It narrowly surpasses Fernando Tatís Jr.’s previous $340MM agreement with the Padres. The delayed money in Lindor’s deal lowers the contract’s worth compared to Tatís, who does not have any deferred money. Nonetheless, Lindor earns a symbolic $1 million more than one of the league’s other top shortstops. Lindor’s $34.1MM average annual worth ranks sixth all-time. It is also by far the largest financial outlay in Mets history.
Keeping one of the sport’s top players and most captivating individuals for the next decade is a significant development for the Mets on its own. However, the Lindor deal signifies a significant step forward for the organization’s future under new owner Steve Cohen. Under the previous ownership group, the Mets’ payrolls were closer to average than the top-of-the-market range expected of a New York City team. The offseason sale of the organization to Cohen, MLB’s richest owner, gave Mets supporters anticipation for a significant increase in expenditure.
New York had an active winter, but they did not make a significant impact at the start of free agency, which disappointed some observers. By extending Lindor, the Mets avoid losing one of the top players in next winter’s class. The 2021-22 free agency shortstop class has received a lot of interest. It remains stacked, with Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, and Javier Báez all set to hit free agency. Lindor, on the other hand, was the face of that group, with as much, if not more, earning power than his contemporaries.
Mets owner Steve Cohen considering trade deadline selloff, but Showalter, Eppler safe through season | AP News
New York had an active winter, but they failed to make a huge impact at the outset of free agency, disappointing some observers. By extending Lindor, the Mets avoid losing one of next winter’s top prospects. The 2021-22 free agency shortstop class has generated a lot of interest. It remains packed, with Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, and Javier Báez all ready to become free agents. Lindor, on the other hand, represented that group and earned as much, if not more, than his contemporaries.
Lindor’s deal will count for $34.1MM (a deal’s average yearly worth is measured for CBT purposes) against the luxury ledger every year from 2022 to 2031, providing the luxury tax system remains in place under the conditions of the next collective bargaining agreement. According to Cot’s, the deal increases the Mets’ actual payroll in 2022 to more over $127 million, with a projected luxury tax of $135 million. If New York wants to keep star outfielder Michael Conforto from leaving for free agency this offseason, they will need to make another major investment (albeit not in the Lindor category). The Mets and Conforto discussed an extension this spring, and those talks might continue throughout the season.
