New York Mets: Imagining an extension for Francisco Lindor

If the New York Mets are going to extend Francisco Lindor, now is the time. He had set a deadline for Opening Day for any contract talks, and while that could change if the two sides are close, there is a sense of urgency if such a deal will take place. Those talks should have already started based on Jon Heyman’s report that discussions would begin in earnest this week.

But there is still the question of what it will take to actually get a deal done. One has to imagine that Lindor’s representatives are looking at the 12 year, $340 million extension that Fernando Tatis Jr. signed as a high water mark. Tatis is younger, but Lindor has far more of a track record of success at the major league level.

Imagining an extension between the New York Mets and Francisco Lindor

Lindor has had a stellar beginning to his career. A four time All Star, he has posted a .285/.346/.488 batting line in his 3510 plate appearances, hitting 138 homers and 191 doubles while stealing 99 bases. He has also notched two Gold Glove awards and two Silver Sluggers, marking himself as one of the top all around shortstops in the game.

As Lindor had previously turned down an extension of over $200 million from the Indians, the Mets will likely need to come closer to what Tatis signed for. Or, they could look to make Lindor the first player to have an annual average value of $40 million over the course of the contract, surpassing the deal Trevor Bauer signed if he does not exercise either of his opt out clauses.

While Lindor is 27 years old and about to enter his prime, that does somewhat limit the length of any possible extension. The Mets may not exactly be comfortable signing him to a ten year deal, but that could be the maximum duration Lindor could receive. A slightly shorter deal, but with a higher AAV, could lock him in through his hypothetical prime while keeping the Mets from dealing with an aging star who is eating up valuable financial resources.

This leads to a certain framework for a possible extension. The Mets would probably be looking at a deal between seven to ten years with a total value between $280 to $300 million. That would put Lindor in the same ballpark at Tatis with his own contract, and even at the lower end, give him one of the richest contracts in the history of the game.

The New York Mets and Francisco Lindor are interested in working out an extension. If they are using Fernando Tatis Jr. as a guide, a deal could come together quickly.