NY Mets Monday Morning GM: Francisco Lindor and signer’s remorse

Francisco Lindor did his best to become embraced by New York Mets fans. He showed up to spring training with blue hair! What else must a man do to receive nothing but unconditional love?

Well, there’s a lot. You can hit. You can put up MVP numbers. You can lead the team to a championship all while leading the clubhouse there, too.

Like him or not, Lindor hasn’t lived up to his end of the lofty contract. Fortunately, it’s year one! He is still adjusting to New York; something all of us non-New Yorkers typically have to do whenever we visit. It’s similar to jetlag without the watch resetting.

There’s no hindsight look back as to whether the Mets made the right decision to extend him. They certainly did. They had no other choice. Instead of front office buyer’s remorse, I’m curious if there’s any signer’s remorse on Lindor’s behalf.

The Mets fans haven’t been what Francisco Lindor bargained for

From the first boos he heard from the fans, something about the Big Apple seemed to eat away at Lindor. I guess he wasn’t used to this. He probably grew up receiving nothing but praise for his baseball abilities. He was the kid on the team that batted .896 in little league and the only time he ever made an out was when a booger-eater in right field got lucky with a catch.

When the big fish from smaller ponds all hop into the ocean called Major League Baseball, they’re suddenly not as untouchable anymore. Lindor has had years to experience it. Apparently, it wasn’t until 2021 when he heard it from the hometown fans.

Lindor was outspoken from the start about the boos and how much he didn’t like them. He took it a step too far by giving the fans a thumbs down and convince teammates to join in. We don’t know for sure who the mastermind behind this devious plot to finish the season with Citi Field empty. His participation is enough culpability for him to receive a harsh sentence.

But enough about digits on a hand. The Mets and Lindor are going to be together for a good number of years. The sense I get: Lindor probably wishes it was somewhere a little more pleasant.

Francisco Lindor didn’t choose the Mets but then he grabbed the money

We can look back at what led to the start of this relationship. Lindor was traded to the Mets, against his will. He didn’t come kicking and screaming. He seemed happy to get out of the situation the Cleveland Indians had dug themselves into.

Lindor quickly set a deadline for an extension. It was Opening Day or the end of the season. He wouldn’t listen to offers in the regular season.

The front office did the right thing. Was it the smart thing? Definitely not. After the season he has put together, Lindor would have needed to sign for much less. It would have still been an immensely large deal but certainly not as lucrative as it ended up.

I’m always curious about the psyche that goes on for athletes. Do they bet on themselves or do they take the money and hope they can at least put up a passable performance?

There was no way Lindor could logically bet on himself to have a good year in 2021. How many more millions would an MVP have gotten him? I think he got every penny he probably ever could.

I don’t like referencing Lindor’s paycheck as a reason to hold him to a higher standard. I lump him in with other veterans making good money. I am not opposed to holding him a bit more accountable than someone making as much in one year as he will in a month, though. With big contracts come even larger responsibilities.

Nobody—the Mets or Lindor—is at fault for the contract taking place. It was the best move either could do. Someone was likely to lose in the end.

Lindor may fall asleep at night wishing he was playing on a coastal town with adoring fans who never boo. It’s only natural for thoughts of “what if” to pop up.