The New York Mets have drawn a firm line around shortstop Francisco Lindor as the MLB trade deadline approaches, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
As teams ramp up discussions ahead of the Monday 6 p.m. ET cutoff, the Mets have made clear to other clubs that shortstop Lindor is off limits for now.
Nightengale’s July 31 column details the latest chatter circulating among general managers and executives. While the Mets are actively shopping pitching, they have drawn a distinction with their star infielder.
The team is prepared to move starter Clay Holmes quickly, noting that he is not scheduled to make another start before the deadline. They are also exploring deals involving starter Freddy Peralta and have no intention of signing him to an extension. Lindor, however, remains unavailable in current talks.
This stance comes as the broader deadline market remains relatively slow, with clubs still sorting out whether they are true buyers or sellers.
The Mets’ decision to shield Lindor underscores their desire to retain a key piece of their core even as they look to reshape other parts of the roster through trades.
Nightengale’s reporting reflects the quiet but firm message the Mets have conveyed across the league: Lindor is not on the table at this time.
New York acquired Lindor in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Guardians back in January 2021. The Mets then signed the five-time All-Star to a 10-year, $341 million extension.
Lindor’s deal runs through 2031 with no options and has $160 million remaining, making him a rather complicated trade chip.
Further muddying the waters is the fact that Lindor is slashing just .227/.314/.409 with eight home runs and 24 RBI over 229 plate appearances this season.
Now 32 years old, Lindor appears to be on a decline, so rival squads may not exactly be lining up to take on the rest of his bloated contract.
Lindor has been a bit of a disappointment with the Mets overall, owning a .795 OPS since joining the club.
We’ll see if New York ultimately has a change of heart and decides to move him before Monday’s deadline.
