Lindor’s signing and extension sends Mets’ 2021 expectations sky high
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At the eleventh hour (literally), the Mets and their recently acquired shortstop Francisco Lindor reached a long-term contract extension to keep him in orange and blue for the next 11 seasons. There had been a stare down of sorts between Cohen and Lindor’s management, but late Wednesday night, an agreement was struck. The particulars include ten years, $341 million. Of note, that $341 million is one million dollars more in total value than the extension San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. recently signed.
According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, Lindor’s deal will start in 2022, and combined with his 2021 salary, he will be making $363.3 million over the next eleven years.
After a pandemic-shortened 2020, a full 162 game season is on deck for each team now, pending possible outbreaks of course.
The Mets have as loaded an everyday lineup as they’ve had in some time. Combine that with a rotation featuring the best pitcher in baseball, and things are looking up for the team in Queens. They’ve been picked by many to be a playoff team in 2021 — whether as a division winner or a wild card representative — putting a giant target on the team and their new billionaire owner.
Position players
The everyday lineup and 25-man roster has major league depth at almost every position, putting the Mets in position to be able to survive the wear-and-tear of a 162-game season. No more days of fringe players making up the end of the bench, especially important when remembering these players haven’t played a full season since 2019. Plus, the acquisition of Lindor shapes the lineup into an entirely different beast.
Pending an eleventh hour change of heart between the owners and the Player’s Association, the universal designated hitter (DH) will have to wait until this next off-season to be enacted full-time in the new CBA. (That negotiation is an entirely different conversation that could see the first possible strike since 1994, but that’s for another day…)
Given the lack of the DH, that leaves the Mets with a number of possible lineup iterations. But for opening day, against a right-handed pitcher in Max Scherzer, it should look like this:
1. Brandon Nimmo, CF
2. Francisco Lindor, SS
3. Michael Conforto, RF
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Dominic Smith, LF
6. Jeff McNeil, 2B
7. J.D. Davis, 3B
8. James McCann, C
It leaves the team with a bench full of major leaguers and the ability to pull Dom Smith and J.D. Davis for defense late in games with a lead. On the bench will be catcher Tomas Nido, infielder Luis Guillorme, infielder Jonathan Villar, and outfielders Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr.
Pitching Staff
The pitching staff, especially the starting rotation, has an under construction sign hanging above it. Two starting pitchers, Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard, will be added as the season goes on pending positive rehabilitations from their injuries. Syndergaard is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and Carrasco tore his hamstring early in spring training. Both have the ability to bring this rotation to another level.
After ace Jacob deGrom, who just recently told the media his goal at this stage of his career is to create a Hall of Fame resume for himself with the pursuit and capture of a third Cy Young award, is Marcus Stroman, David Peterson, Taijuan Walker, and a combo platter of sorts in the fifth spot. The Mets seem destined to try out an opener, which is a bullpen arm pitching the first one or two innings, and then the fifth starter pitching the bulk of the game afterwards. Jacob Barnes was the opener for Joey Lucchesi at the end of spring training, foreshadowing the Mets’ plan for the fifth spot.
The bullpen, headed by closer Edwin Diaz, is sneakily the key factor to how far the Mets will go in 2021. Real, major league arms were added in Aaron Loup and Trevor May to supplement the Mets’ pen. Seth Lugo’s injury leaves the Mets without one of their more reliable arms for roughly six weeks, but this is a bullpen that should be able to cope in the interim. Add Lugo back in and this should be an above-average pen.
When Luis Rojas looks in the mirror, or sits face-to-face with Sandy Alderson and Steve Cohen, there is one thing and one thing only that he should be thinking. Forget how deep the National League East is from top-to-bottom. Forget how the Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuna Jr. are the defending NL East champs. Cohen and Alderson have given Rojas the roster to make some serious noise in 2021. Those around the league and in baseball media certainly believe the hype. Now these Mets have to back it all up.
