Everyone is telling the NY Mets they should be more concerned about Francisco Lindor

It is official. Francisco Lindor is going to have surgery on his hamate bone and yet the New York Mets remain optimistic he’ll be ready for Opening Day.

Get used to the word hamate. Spring training hasn’t even officially begun and already Corbin Carroll and Jackson Holliday have suffered the same injury. What’s odd is their injury status is much more up in the air with doubts about being ready to start the year, Holliday already ruled out.

Even if Lindor outpaces them in a return, Jeff Passan pointed out a little bit of history about the injury. An early return for Lindor, whether it’s on Opening Day or shortly thereafter, might come with consequences.

Francisco Lindor’s injury sounds like a bigger deal than the Mets are making it out to be

David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza aren’t panicking nor should they. The team has a plethora of built-in options at shortstop in place of Lindor. Moving Bo Bichette to shortstop is a natural move to make if there’s any long-term plan needed. There’s also Ronny Mauricio and a whole bunch of other inferior utility infielders as well.

Bichette moving off of third base helps to answer a question of how Brett Baty and Mark Vientos can co-exist. Plus, it’s another spot for Mauricio to get regular everyday action.

None of it is ideal. The Mets didn’t plan to be without Lindor to start the year. They’re just well-equipped to deal with this injury in terms of not completely punting the position from an offensive standpoint.

The hamate injury isn’t anything new to Lindor. He has battled through it in the past, only now requiring surgery. Pushing up against being available for Opening Day, the Arizona Diamondbacks having doubts about Carroll and the Baltimore Orioles already announcing Holliday is on the IL to begin the year seems to stack the odds against Lindor. What’s more, Passan’s note on it being a months-long process to regain power isn’t so promising.

Lindor doesn’t need to swat 30 bombs for the Mets every year to be productive. But a loss of power is more than just hitting home runs. Line drives into the gap for doubles are suddenly singles that are more easily cut off. Recognized for slow starts already, it might take Lindor even longer than usual to look like his old self again.