Mets extension with Francisco Lindor makes the Astros look cheap

The Francisco Lindor extension brought joy to New York Mets fans who were beginning to believe the new star shortstop would be out of the Big Apple after just one season. Steve Cohen and Company made sure the offseason trade with the Cleveland Indians was for more than just one season.

Now signed to a ten-year extension beyond 2021, Lindor is locked up as the shortstop in Queens for a good long time. Unfortunately for other teams hoping to do something similar with their players, the Mets are getting in the way of their pursuit in keeping some players.

The Mets extension with Francisco Lindor makes a lot of other guys richer

It’s no secret that the MLBPA likes to get the best deals possible for their players. Even if it means landing on a team they may not necessarily want to sign with, a goal of the group is to get the most money possible for the star players. This makes everyone richer.

Now, more than ever, it’s a goal of free agents. Front offices aren’t as willing to give everyone the big payday they seek.

One guy who will get paid is shortstop Carlos Correa. The Houston Astros shortstop is a free agent after the 2021 season. However, a long-term relationship with the only organization he has ever known took a major hit when we look at the offer they gave him.

Correa has reportedly already turned down a six-year offer worth $120 million and a five-year deal worth $125 million. Both less than what George Springer received from the Toronto Blue Jays this winter at a more advanced age, it certainly doesn’t help the Astros to see the Mets pay their star shortstop a whole lot more.

This upcoming winter’s class of free agent shortstops is a doozy even with Lindor off the board. Along with Correa, Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers are free agents from the NL West. From the NL Central, Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez will be looking for a new deal.

Also of note, Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons are free agent shortstops who should get attention. They have both already gone to free agency but should be productive players for a few more years.

We knew Cohen’s Billions had the chance to change the game for the Mets. As we witnessed all winter, the Mets were at least rumored to have interest in every man with a pair of stirrups.

The Lindor deal wasn’t about making the Astros or any other team look like your uncle with a shirt so old the drummer from Def Leppard has two arms—something I noticed the last time I visited my Uncle David.

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Extending Lindor was about making the Mets better. In the process, other free agents may reconsider signing too soon if they think Cohen or another owner may have a better deal to hand over.