Mets President Sandy Alderson said that he expects extension talks with Francisco Lindor and Michael Conforto to begin soon, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). Both players are scheduled for free agency after the 2021 season. Lindor, for his part, has made clear that he will not negotiate an extension beyond opening day, so the window is now for Alderson and the Mets. Alderson also put forth Noah Syndergaard’s name as a potential extension candidate as well, notes Tim Healey of Newsday (via Twitter). Syndergaard, of course, is on the way back from Tommy John surgery and won’t likely appear until mid-season, but he will also be a free agent at year’s end. Extending those three would certainly cost a chunk of change, but the Mets do have roughly $100MM coming off their payroll next offseason. Interestingly, Marcus Stroman was not mentioned as an extension candidate. His $18.9MM salary could help provide the necessary raises next season for Lindor, Conforto, and Syndergaard. While we’re here, let’s check in with some other clubs in the East…
- Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins is giving up switch-hitting to bat lefty full-time, writes Rich Dubroff of Baltimorebaseball.com. After a horrendous 2019, Mullins bounced back somewhat in 2020, doing enough to stay on the Major League roster to appear in 48 games and 153 plate appearances with a palatable .271/.315/.407 slash line. Mullins is trying to make the Orioles roster as a fourth outfielder, though there are certainly more at-bats available if he proves capable. Giving up his right-handed swing could force him into a more straight platoon, but he hasn’t been helped by his work on the short side of that split anyhow. For his career, Mullins has hit just .146 as a right-hander with a 26 wRC+ (versus 90 wRC+ as a lefty). The split was even more pronounced last season when he earned a 118 wRC+ as a left-handed hitter versus 34 wRC+ from the right side. If nothing else, Mullins should be able to simplify his routine by focusing on one swing.
- Erick Fedde may have stumbled upon a solution to his wandering fastball command, writes Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. In his first start of the spring, Fedde turned to his cutter, a pitch that has long eluded him as he has tried to establish himself as a Major League pitcher. Fedde’s cutter did not help his cause in either 2018 or 2020, per Fangraphs pitch values, though in 2019 it was his best offering. Fedde is competing for the Nats fifth starter job, though he’s not likely to win the job out of camp. With one option remaining, the Nationals have more roster flexibility with Fedde than with his competitors Joe Ross and Austin Voth. For Fedde to stick long-term, he probably needs both his sinking fastball and his cutter to work with more consistency.
jakec77
Why not wait on Lindor? Before committing $300 million or more, why not make sure he is comfortable playing in the NY market?
JOHNSmith2778
I don’t think the Mets are giving lindor 300m. Granted he is gifted on defense, his offense isn’t off the charts. His career OPS+ is 117. If you look at 300m position players OPS+ at time of signing,
Trout 175
Harper 139
Stanton 144
Machado 121
Betts 134
Tatis 154
There is one close comp, Machado. And the padres aren’t going to be on the market this off season for an infielder.
I wouldn’t go more than 200/8.
99 Captain Judge
@JOHNsmith2778- Lindor is not taking $200 million for 8 yrs. If talks don’t start at $340 million then he ain’t even talking about an extension. He might just wait till free agency if your going to lowball him.
krockMETS
There’s absolutely no chance he’s getting $340 million, that’s crazy. Tatis got that because he’s 5 years younger and signed for 14 years. He’ll sign for 8-10 years in the ballpark of $300 million.
99 Captain Judge
@krockMETS- that’s funny that you say that because his agent is asking for $390 million dollars. No way he’s getting that. Ask yourself: Who is the best shortstop in the game? Would you say Lindor is in the top 3? If Lindor is in the top 3 then he might be worthy of the $340 million. Tatis is great there is no denying that. But did the Padres overspend for him? The point is sometimes you got to pay your star just to keep them from leaving.
krockMETS
His agent is asking for $390 million? There’s no way you could know that unless this is Ken Rosenthal’s MLBTR account. 390 was reported by the NY Post which is a rag, in which they said a “a rival executive estimated” he’s looking for that much.
Mjshof
Here’s a novel thought- let him leave
Metfan1964
The Tatis Contract has pushed him north of $300 million
VonPurpleHayes
200/8 is not going to do it my friend.
OGkersh
If Tatis can get that much money for only playing 143 career games then I think someone with a legit major league career, who everyone has actually seen what he can do, and be consistent while doing it can as well
JOHNSmith2778
My point is I wouldn’t pay him more than 200/8 right now on an extension. If he wants to test the market, let him, and the Mets can play that game in the off season. Just because the Padres want to throw 300m at guys doesn’t mean the entire market is going to adjust up to that. I’m not a believer in extending guys for record amounts. Extensions are about getting a deal on guys, Lindor isn’t Mike Trout, don’t pay him like Mike Trout when other teams can’t bid on him. If Lindor comes in and says his starting price is $300m because Machado and Tatis got $300m, Alderson should tell him to call the Padres this off season.
scottymo17
U want him or not. ??
C’mon guy wake up
joeyrocafella
He’s definitely getting 300M. That’s the market price for superstars now
yick04
You make fine points but dollars earned in Free Agency tend to exceed what performance dictates a player should make. If Lindor believes he could earn more in FA next offseason, he’s not going to accept a “lowball” extension offer.
Metfan1964
The Tatis Contract has pushed him north of $300 million
99 Captain Judge
Don’t wait on paying Lindor or his price will even skyrocket more. Offer $340 million for 10 years to get started.
DarkSide830
i dont see what 1 year will do to his value at this point
99 Captain Judge
@DarkSide830- if he starts having an MVP type of season that $340 million will turn closer to $400 million by the time he hits free agency. Don’t play games just re-sign him now. That’s the point. Especially if he wants to play in NY.
gcg27
No way I’ll I go more than 8 years 260. Take it or leave it or in 4 or 5 years the contract will be horrible for Mets. .. with the free agents that were out there I wouldn’t have done a trade unless I talked to him first and see what he was going to agree to.. no extension and I woulda went after Springer instead
phenomenalajs
I think the $34M AAV (8/272M) with opt-outs could get it done. The Mets have to be serious about extending him after trading for him. I understand the new owner has $$$, but committing “stupid money” is, um, stupid when you have several top dollar players to extend. Besides the ones mentioned in this article, I think the Mets need to seriously look at extending their two top pre-arb players – Alonso and McNeil – who both have more MLB experience than Tatis. Cohen may have the money, but it doesn’t mean it’s wise to jump to the top of the payroll/luxury tax board all at once.
debubba
I guess you have to think of it this way: could you get Story, Seager, or Correa cheaper next year for you plan to commit to extend Lindor?
VonPurpleHayes
@jakec77 Completely agree. The Mets have nothing to lose by waiting at this point. The SS market is incredible next year. I don’t think they’ll lose Lindor, but even if they do, they’ll be able to find a stud replacement. Wait a year and maybe his price goes down (if he has an off year or something).
Grade_1_teacher
I agree. Lindor is also coming off a down season in Cleveland. If the Mets give him a Mookie Betts-type extension and he plays like Carlos Baerga, they will have an albatross on their hands. It’s best to wait and see if Lindor handles NY well and if he delivers a good season.
LordD99
Just remember, Betts was also coming off a down year, for him, when traded to the Dodgers. The Dodgers bet in the talent. The Mets might want to do the same.
Mjshof
The Dodgers wanted the last piece to win a WS (check) and a player to potentially drive a three-pete before a lot of their talent hits FA
bot
The reason Mets need to get it done now is that they are not a preferred destination by many free agents. Mets can leverage the security of 340 million now vs waiting til offseason to get it done and, in my opinion, he has to take it. Compared to waiting- if he balls out and Texas comes calling or dodgers or any other of a dozen or so better destinations- he will almost certainly leave Mets for close to same money.
JohhnyBets67
The Dodgers aren’t shelling the cash out for Frankie. Mets are in a good spot with him.
They can extend if they want to. But Story, Correa, and Seager will be out on the open market as backup options should his demands be insane. None of those guys are Lindor but it’s not like replacing an AS SS w/ Freddy Galvis.
Lurking
It’s a neat lock the Dodgers will pay a SS 25-35M next year
The questions are for who, for how long, and for how much
JohhnyBets67
The Dodgers keep their roster flexible. They’ve never been the type to hand out multiple mega deals. I doubt Lindor gets a Betts deal.
Seager probably goes back for half of what Frankie gets. Seager isn’t half the player either.
jakec77
Bot- pretty sure you are just trolling by calling Mets not a preferred destination and saying Texas is better.
But, you are still making my point- if he signs a mega extension now and then doesn’t like playing here, how is that good for either side?
I’m not even saying they have to wait until the offseason. But let him experience being a Met for a couple of months before locking yourself in.
(And I’m not even factoring in that we really have no idea what finances in a post-COVID world are going to look like)
bot
100% not trolling. Is NYC population on the rise or decline ?? Is TX population on rise or decline ?? More people are moving into tx from places like NY and Cali by the droves. Daily. So if u want a desired location- I chose TX. If u want to win- Dodgers.
Want more ??
Houston
Angels
StL
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
Colorado
SF
SD
Both FL teams
And of course Yankees
All those places are either a better location or better program than Mets. And as u can see w Bauer- not everyone will sign w Mets when a better destination or franchise is offering similar money
Flyby
Im sorry Bot you lost me when you compared the city of NYC (especially during a pandemic where being close to others could be dangerous) to a state. My guess is Arlington doesnt equal even half of NYC population and if you want the big endorsements and make a brand LA, NYC, and Miami are where you want to be.
I would choose pretty much any other team in the AL West before the rangers. I dont think they become competitive in their own division for a few years. I daresay Detroit will be a better team before Texas.
JohhnyBets67
Colorado is a garbage dump franchise that won’t be signing any top tier FA’s. Milwaukee can’t afford it. Angels aren’t spending 300 million on another position player. Neither is San Diego. STL just picked Arenado so that’ll effectively take them out on Lindor. Suggesting TB is laughable.
Houston is a huge long shot but maybe they’d have interest. Miami could potentially do it as a face of the franchise move. Minnesota could but likely won’t. SF is really the most obvious fit of the teams you listed.
But you have to remember that Story, Seager, and Correa will all likely be out there.
dugmet
They can wait. Cohen has the money to sign Lindor any time he decides during Spring Training or if Lindor hits the FA market next winter so it should not be a concern for Mets fans.
Rsox
Right now they are the only team at the table and that gives them an edge. Wait and if Lindor has an MVP caliber season watch his price soar. The talent is there in Lindor and no longer having to shrug off trade rumors may do wonders for his production. You don’t acquire a player of his ability and not at least try to lock him up before others get a chance to sign him
icantstandyous
Conforto will test market thanks to Boras.
SalaryCapMyth
Strasburg, Altuve and Bogaerts are all Boras clients that signed extensions and didn’t hit free agency.
Lurking
Weren’t 2 of those approaching record type deals..? Not fantastic comps
They sign if you are willing to pay market rate or above
SalaryCapMyth
You should have looked up their contracts before you called them bad examples. Strasburg’s was record setting, but Altuve’s 7 year, $163M and Bogaerts 6 year, $120M doesn’t approach any record at all.
Luc 2
Some players want extensions to get security, but only 2 players with an extension (Not counting Stras cuz it was record setting) that isn’t to big of a deal. Also when did they sign those extensions? If they were elite then idk what Boras was doing
random name generator
Strasburg’s first extension with the Nats was only 7 for 175, which was not something that was approaching a record setting deal at that time (you already had at least three or four 200 million dollar contracts at that point). Yes, when Stras resigned his new contract was a record setter… before Cole passed it like 48 hours later, but you can’t call his extension in 2016 a record setter.
SalaryCapMyth
@Luc 2. Was Bogaerts and Altuve elite at the time of their extension signings? That’s a good question. We might be able to have a pretty good debate about that. I think your point is, it makes a difference who the player is. That someone like Mookie Betts would hit the open market no matter the offer..almost..if Boras was the agent. I can’t really disagree with that thinking so I would say the end result is that it’s more complicated than to just say Boras doesn’t do extensions.
@RNG. You make a good point. I didn’t think about the first extension Stras signed.
Bill M
The Mets extension candidates were mentioned in the right order: Lindor, Conforto, Syndergaard, Stroman.
OGkersh
I only see Lindor being the for sure extension here for the Mets. Conforto should extend as well but with greedy golem Boras, who knows what will happen lol Thor is the biggest question mark tho cuz Stroman could possibly get an extension but that’s only since he’d be cheapest by far of the 4 to retain. I think Mets win the division by the way and I’m not even a Mets fan lol I just don’t trust any of the young not huge strike out killer starters Braves have and Nats pitching is all on the older side and then there’s Phillies lmfao but Marlins will no doubt be the best 5th place team in all MLB! I’m so glad baseball is back!!
99 Captain Judge
$300 million for Lindor is not going to get it done. You got to start at $340 million. He might even want more then that. My guess is Frankie wants to re-sign with the Mets and it will happen with Cohen’s big pockets. He could always sign with NY’s #1 team the Yankees.
DarkSide830
i dont think there is any certainty over him resigning. it appears he doesnt want to sign during the season, meaning the window’s one month here or he’s likely on the open market. there anything can happen. heck, the market might be surprisingly robust if teams get more attendance then expected this year.
Luc 2
Lindor will only sign with New York Yankees if Torres is traded.
99 Captain Judge
@Luc 2- that’s not true. Lindor would man shortstop, Gleyber would play 2nd and DJ would play lst. And Luke Voit would be traded for a starter in a Luis Castillo package. Probably in a 3 way deal that would net the Yankees prospects to send to Cincinnati
Luc 2
Oh didn’t know that, but the Reds are not trading Castillo. Their GM shut down the rumors. I can only see Castillo being traded in his contract year or the Reds get a massive overpayment. Maybe Voit for a different pitcher like Marquez idk.
JohhnyBets67
@Yank4Life
Oh yes, the Reds are just going to be lining up to trade Luis Castillo for a deal revolving around Luke Voit.
It’s almost like they don’t have a HOF 1B on their roster through 2023.
LordD99
The advantage of LeMahieu is he can slot at three positions. Actually, there’s a “fourth,” which I’ll get to in a second. The Yankees could trade Voit or Urshela, with LeMahieu covering either corner. I’m not unconvinced 3B might be LeMahieu’s best position longer term as he loses a step. 1B almost feels like a waste of his defensive skills, but it’s an option. The fourth position I referenced is no specific position, but reverting to the role he signed for originally. The all-purpose infielder. He could play six games a week by moving across the infield. Everyone will be focused on Torres, figuring if he is weak at SS then the Yankees will enter the market for a SS. He could be great there and the Yankees still may enter the market. Urshela might also regress and if he does LeMahieu can take over at third, or Gleyber, and that once again opens the Yankees to signing one of the SS’s.
There was a mistaken belief by some fans that the Yankees signing LeMahieu for six years means they’d locked themselves into Torres at SS. They did the opposite. LeMahieu greatly increases all their infield options over the next few years.
99 Captain Judge
@JohnnyBets67- you obviously didn’t read what I said. Cincinnati is not a destination for Voit. So it would likely be a 3 way trade. Garcia or Schmidt, Anthony Volpe and another prospect would likely be going to the Reds. Voit would be going to another team, in a 3 way deal. Luis Castillo is eventually going to be traded. When he does it will probably be to the Yankees or the BlueJays.
Flyby
@lordd99
Not that you lock yourself into Gleybar at SS but the overall of the infield goes down with any improved SS you get that isnt one hell of a bat too. DJ value is his ability to move to all spots but 1st baseman are meant for big power bats with little mobility and with DJ it is a waste of value.
Yes if Urshela regresses then DJ playing third could improve but with Urshela being on the younger side i dont see that happening for a few years. Voit also received a decent amount of MVP votes. Short of replacing Gleybar right now with Tim Anderson and moving DJ to first and Voit to the bench your team will be weaker.
jdgoat
He isn’t signing with a third place team
DarkSide830
to be fair, Lindor probably makes them at least 2nd best
southsidebatman
Well Trout Machado and Harper did so I don’t see why he wouldn’t.
OGkersh
Why are Mets for sure 3rd to you Jdgoat? And then who is 2nd? Lol I think Mets win the division seeing how out of all 5 NL East teams they are the only ones that have the most complete team with all 3 offense, starting pitching and bullpen! Like Nats have a good offense with Soto and Turner but who knows how old man Scherzer and the always injured Stras and their bullpen play and Braves have offense for sure but you can’t say their young non strike out starters will be able to get guys out without issue. Like Fried is good but he’s not a strike out pitcher really and neither is the rest of their rotation and then Phillies I just lol cuz they can’t seem to do anything right outside of Nola! And yes Marlins will most definitely be 5th in the division but they also will by far be the best 5th place team out of all 6 divisions! NL East is the toughest division honestly so all teams might just beat up on each other and end the season with the first place team being at 88 wins max
Luc 2
Nice rant. All good statements, the Mets may Met, but they could easily win. Braves and Nats also have a good shop. My prediction is the division ends up being really tight and it will take all 162
TmanTheGoat
You talk about the braves not having strike out pitchers, but outside of degrom, who do the mets have. Syndergaard won’t be back till halfway through the season, Stroman isn’t a strikeout pitcher nor is the rest of the rotation. Lugo will be out for a bit, Diaz had 1 good year in a mets uniform, and (outside may) the pen has serious question marks. It’s fine to think they can win, but don’t act like their problems isn’t as bad as the other teams.
bot
3rd in NL east. #1 in the city
99 Captain Judge
@jdgoat-3rd place team? No he isn’t signing with the BlueJays or the DevilRays, no worries.
Lurking
The devil rays haven’t been a team for a decade+. So you’re right there
99 Captain Judge
@Lurking- what has Tampa ever won? 2 ALCS? Smh. Let them win a World Series and then I’ll stop calling them the Devil Rays. Probably not happening.
Luc 2
IMO they should not extend Syndergaard. Lindor will test FA but resign pretty quick and Conforto will leave if they miss playoffs but if they make it he stays.
BeanTownsBest38
Lindor is going to the Angels next season.
bot
Whoever signs lindor – will most likely regret that one. Relying on speed and quickness at 25 will work. Not as much though 5 years and a 150 million down the road. Gonna be a lot of bad years paying a guy north of 30 million. Mets would do better staying away, but then they wouldn’t be the Mets so I say deal gets done and deal 100% has been discussed already. “Begin soon” give me a break !
Luc 2
I think lindor will be top 5 until age 33. Then he will decrease.The only problem signing him long term would be a big back load to the contract. I would either front load or defer it.
Flyby
It has to be Conforto first then Lindor then Thor. Look at the free agent market and then look at the Mets prospect line. There is literally no outfielder as good as Conforto or as young and there is really no outfielder in the pipeline. Unless the plan is to put Nimmo or Davis in right or get into a wait til spring training next year with Boras to potentially get him at a much higher price.
Lindor may want to sign an extension now because at this point he has stiff competition on the market that could bring his price down and there is no guarantee of a 2022 season to begin with. Obviously, there is an amount he wont go under, but there is no better market than NY to promote yourself especially if you are a top player.
LordD99
Lindor and Syndergaard should play the year out. Obviously, there’s a point where the offer is so high that they should take it, but short of that, both will only get full market value by becoming free agents. Doesn’t mean they won’t remain Mets, but they should maximize their leverage.
In Lindor’s case, he’s been fully prepared to play out 2021 and that’s before the mystery of playing for a new team in 2021 became a reality. Why not first see if he even likes the Mets or enjoys playing in NY? Or, if he finds he loves NY, he might decide to upgrade and move across town. If nothing else, getting both NY teams bidding will send his valuation skyward. Mets fans should root for Gleyber Torres to have a good year and take the Yankees out of consideration. Add in the Dodgers, who may lose Seager, and Lindor is sitting pretty. He knows the Mets have to come to the table with a huge, huge offer for him not to test free agency.
Syndergaard needs to show he’s healthy. TJS has a high success rate but there are failures and setbacks. The second half of 2021 will set him up for a big payday. I can’t see the Mets taking a risk and paying him market value until they know he’s back, and I don’t see him selling himself short. He may remain a Met, but he’ll first need to finish out 2021 healthy. He’s going to be a free agent before he signs his next contract.
JohhnyBets67
I don’t think the team across town has a lot of interest in shelling out 300 MM to Lindor. More likely that they’ll be shelling out 150 to Thor or another TOR guy. Kluber is gone after this year and they’ll need a replacement. The offense is fine.
LordD99
It’s going to come down to how Torres looks this year defensively. They’ll wisely give him this year for a proper assessment, but they won’t let the SSmageddon pass by without grabbing one of them if he’s iffy. They’re resetting their luxury tax and the thresholds will increase, so they’ll be in good play if they need to.
Thor? Cut his hair? Never!
Lurking
Lmao. Thor is getting a 2 year prove you are healthy extension. Not 150M
JohhnyBets67
We have no idea what Thor is going to get. If he comes back in June and pitches well—he hits the open market with a good shot at 150MM.
Pat Corbin got 140. I’d say should Thor come back and look like the guy we remember then he has no problem getting a deal in that range.
dimitriinla
Good, and fairly obvious, decision re Mullins and switch hitting.
met man
They didn’t trade for Lindor to have him leave after one year.Cohen will pay him 300million plus.
whyhayzee
The problem with trying to extend players is exacerbated by social inflation, the same reason that insurance costs have gone through the roof. Every new amount tossed out there becomes the floor for the next similar situation. Baseball has made quite the expensive bed sitting inside a house of cards.
A_Cespedes_For_The_Rest_Of_Us
To be fair he said 3 team deal in which the prospects netted for voit go to Cin… Still don’t think there’s any way that gets done but I guess maybe if they add dominguez and schmidt to the pot?
crshbng
Mets are getting a boat anchor off the books next offseason, only to tie two or three more on, just wait.
baumrind973
310M for 8 years should go it for Ali for
Mjshof
Lindor won’t be worth his contact , but won’t be bad till year 8 or 9. Contrast that with Bryant who will probably suck half the time on a four year deal
soxfan1
Rip up 2021 contract, 12 years 330 million (11 years and 308 million extension). New Mr. Met.
lettersandnumbersonly
isn’t it amazing how much certainty some of these people make comments in here?
and yet their comments might be as much as $150 million or 5 years or more apart.
maybe if you proposed your comments as the opinions that they are and not as if you are the player’s agent or the team’s GM people wouldn’t be so aggressive in shooting your ideas down?
but then again, most often times the guy that shoots your comment down makes his comment with just as much certainty that you made your comment.
oh well, welcome to the internet. land of the free home of the moronic.
kendrick
Lindor will get , minimum, 300 duhh. Last year don’t count on a super stars resume. He’s proven himself already as the best SS in mlb . Defense on point an he’ll give you 30 HR easy , 15 righty 15 lefty cmon. If the Mets don’t pay it trust someone will . Even if he hit free agency ,along those those other SS , they will get payed before him only solidifying
kendrick
His asking price
Douglas Hervey
Anyone want to discuss Cedric Mullins giving up on switch hitting? Nah, me neither.