NY Mets shouldn’t fear paying star free agent more than Francisco Lindor per year

There are moments when the New York Mets need to behave less like cautious collectors and more like bidders who know exactly which piece belongs in their gallery. Free agency can feel like an auction room where hesitation costs you the masterpiece and commits you to a print instead. The Mets cannot afford that kind of restraint when their next step requires genuine impact.

Cody Bellinger is that impact. His projected 6-year, $180 million deal is hardly light, yet it matches the value he brings to a roster that is starving for production and versatility. If another club tries to turn the bidding into theater, the Mets should keep their paddle raised. The move that changes their season is rarely the cheapest one in the room.

Paying a premium for Cody Bellinger is the move that shifts a team’s trajectory

Bellinger enters free agency carrying the kind of season that tends to draw a crowd. A .272 average, a .334 on base, an .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and 89 runs will do that. More importantly, it was not a fluke. It was a return to the offensive identity he has shown before, the version that makes pitchers uncomfortable from the first pitch. When a player with that profile hits the market, the projected number is just a conversation starter.

This is where Francisco Lindor’s $34 million per year becomes a benchmark rather than a limitation. Lindor earns that figure because he changes games on offense, defense, and in every moment between. Bellinger fits the same mold. They should view it as proof that elite impact deserves elite compensation, especially when it fills needs they could not fix a season ago.

The Mets improve further when Bellinger’s complete skillset is factored in

The Mets had multiple issues last year, and one of the most frustrating was the inability to execute in the biggest at-bats. Bellinger thrives there. With runners in scoring position, he hit .348 with a .567 OPS across 141 at-bats, the exact brand of situational hitting the Mets lacked. These are not empty numbers. They are pressure moments handled with the kind of calm that changes innings and tilts games.

The postseason just reminded the league that putting the ball in play can launch a team deep into October. Toronto reached Game 7 of the World Series behind that very skill. Strikeouts buried contenders, yet Bellinger ranked in the top 9% of MLB in strikeout rate and the top 16% in whiff percentage. Pair that skill with Juan Soto’s ability to work counts, and the Mets suddenly have a duo built to grind pitchers into mistakes.

His value does not stop at the plate. David Stearns has spent the offseason emphasizing run prevention, and Bellinger checks every box he has spoken publicly about. His +7 OAA and +12 DRS, paired with the ability to play all 3 outfield spots and 1B, make him more than a fit. His versatility gives the Mets the freedom to shape the lineup without sacrificing elite defense.

So when the bidding pushes past the projected $30 million per year mark, the Mets should not hesitate. They already pay a franchise cornerstone $34 million because he moves the needle in every direction. Bellinger moves it too, and the cost of acquiring someone who checks this many boxes is not a burden. It is an investment in winning with intention.