Mets: Three signs things will be different in Flushing this year and beyond

Mets made a blockbuster trade with a plan to extend a star

The Francisco Lindor trade will either go down as an absolute bust for the Mets or one of the best deals in franchise history. I tend to lean toward the latter. It’s not blind optimism. The back of Lindor’s baseball card is proof enough.

There is a lot about this trade to cover. In terms of showing us that they are working differently, we can cite two major points.

Trading for Lindor is an investment beyond 2021. I know the Mets say they made the deal even with the understanding that he may walk after the year. But I believe this isn’t true. The Mets front office fully intends to do what they can to make sure Lindor remains in Flushing.

The other part worth mentioning is about how this trade involved taking on the salary of not just a single player but two. Carlos Carrasco, while not a throwaway addition, came to the Big Apple because the Cleveland Indians didn’t want to pay him anymore. It’s not a move we would normally see the old Mets make. This is the new wave Mets. They have gone from “win-later” mode to Depeche Mode.

Extension talks with Lindor may take a few weeks and could even last into the regular season. Just having Lindor in New York for this coming year does increase the club’s chance to retain him.

It’s great news because the Mets could really use a young star like him.