3 Mets players that could win the 2022 NL MVP

Jun 5, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) prepares
Jun 5, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) prepares / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Mets
Sep 12, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits his / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

2. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor

I know last season wasn't his best, but when right, Francisco Lindor is an MVP caliber player. In the past, Lindor has been in the MVP conversation. He had three straight top-nine AL MVP finishes from 2016-2018 finishing as high as fifth in 2017.

In that 2017 season he slashed .273/.337/.505 with 33 home runs and 89 RBI. He also tacked on 15 stolen bases, 44 doubles, and elite defense. Lindor can 100% replicate that season, or even top it in 2022.

Lindor's first season in New York was rocky at best. He came in with lofty expectations and just flat out did not meet them. However, once he got more accustomed to being a New York Met he showed some flashes of his old self. From May 27 until the end of the season he slashed .258/.341/.492 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. He had nine home runs and 25 RBI in September along with a 138 WRC+. He had a 118 WRC+ in the second half, which would tie him for the third-highest mark in his career.

He obviously wasn't as good as he was a couple of years ago, but he wasn't super far away. That combined with his elite defense still made him a 3.1 WAR player, despite his brutal start to the season.

Lindor's best offensive season came in 2018 when he had a 132 WRC+. He hit 38 home runs and hit 38 home runs. I believe both of these numbers are attainable for Lindor. He was a 7.7 fWAR player.

If the Mets perform like they should, I expect Lindor to be one of, if not the best position player on this team. If he performs like he did in Cleveland and like they are paying him to, he will be in the MVP conversation.