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JUPITER Florida – Will dessert be on the $ 300 million menu?
As Francisco Lindor and the Mets discuss a contract extension, the All-Star shortstop dined with team owner Steve Cohen on Saturday, an industry source confirmed. Cohen joked about the dinner on Twitter, saying “the dumplings weren’t very good” and suggesting that Lindor order parma chicken.
This may be the last reason for optimism for Lindor and the Mets to finalize a deal ahead of the player’s deadline on opening day. Lindor has said he will end contract negotiations with the Mets and head for free agency after the season if he does not receive an extension by Thursday.
Cohen, in another possible sign the teams are close, began crowdsourcing fans on Twitter on Friday, asking them what they thought Lindor would take.
The Mets have been willing to go beyond $ 300 million in a long-term extension. Last year, Mookie Betts and Fernando Tatis Jr., both signed extensions well north of that number that will keep them long-term with the Dodgers and Padres, respectively. Betts were awarded a 12-year contract worth $ 365 million. Tatis signed for $ 340 million over 14 years.
Lindor, 27, has been impressive this spring with a .365 / .431 / .615 slash line with four homers and 14 RBIs in 16 games while showing off his Gold Glove defense off the shortstop.
“On the pitch, very professional – a competitor,” coach Luis Rojas said before the Mets lost 10-2 to the Marlins in an exhibition game on Sunday. “That’s the big word that describes him right here, ‘competitor’. He’s a guy who shows up at the ballpark and he’s thinking about ways to beat the other team. He thinks about ways to improve everyone.
“That’s the thing with Francisco, is that he’s such a good player, but one special thing is that he makes everyone better too. It starts when he’s in the approximate stage, he’s working on it. Whether it’s a conversation, ideas he brings to the coaching staff, whether he’s on the pitch during drills, he keeps everyone on his toes.
Lindor arrived this winter with Carlos Carrasco in a trade that sent Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario, Isaiah Green and Josh Wolf to Cleveland. With the Indians, Lindor turned down a contract extension worth at least $ 200 million last season.
“He’s been very professional about it,” Rojas said. “We didn’t hear anything other than baseball in the clubhouse.”
If Lindor were to test free agency, he would face a market that could potentially include Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, and Javy Baez, among others.
Lindor isn’t the only player the Mets are negotiating an extension with. The team also spoke with Michael Conforto, but there is less optimism within the organization about reaching a deal. Conforto, who can become a free agent after the season, said he would “ideally” like to complete extension talks before opening day, but did not set a deadline like Lindor.
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