The Mets’ extension talks with pending free agent Francisco Lindor are “expected to begin in earnest this week,” reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Lindor, 27, has said he wants any negotiation to be done by Opening Day, though Mets president Sandy Alderson recently said he doesn’t view Opening Day as a hard deadline.
Alderson said on March 1 that he expected extension talks with Lindor and Michael Conforto would begin soon — echoing what acting GM Zack Scott in late February.
On the question of whether the Mets should be comfortable extending Lindor before he’s played a game for the team, Alderson said on March 1 that the Mets are not “concerned” but are “mindful” of it.
Lindor has maintained since being acquired via trade from Cleveland that he is open to signing a long-term deal before hitting free agency.
In his short time with the Mets, Lindor has already turned himself into a presence — something that is not lost on Alderson.
“I think what we had been told — that he brings more to the ballpark than just his glove and his bat,” Alderson said on March 1. “There’s a lot more to the overall Lindor package, and I think we’re seeing that demonstrated even before the games start.
“So from that standpoint, we’ve been very happy with what he’s done. It’s been all that we anticipated based on conversations of those that knew Francisco from his days in Cleveland. And is that a component of value? Probably, yeah. But I think that first and foremost it’s about performance on the field.
As far as Lindor’s desire to not have negotiations drag beyond Opening Day, Alderson said that they’ve taken that request at “face value” and will make “every effort” to see what can be done by Opening Day. However, Alderson doesn’t necessarily view it as a hard deadline.
“On the other hand, if things don’t work out between now and the end pf spring training, we’ll figure out a way to hopefully continue to communicate,” Alderson said.