The New York Mets and Francisco Lindor beat the Opening Day deadline to agree to terms on massive contract extension.
The New York Mets may have acquired shortstop Francisco Lindor in a massive trade with the Cleveland Indians, but their offseason was far from over. The team had to find a way to secure Lindor with a contract extension to prevent him from hitting free agency. After a stand-off earlier this week, the two sides beat the deadline at the wire.
According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Mets and Lindor have agreed to terms on a 10-year, $341 million contract extension. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the contract has no opt-outs, a partial trade clause and features $50 million in deferrals ($5 million each year deferred to 2032-41). Lindor’s extension officially kicks in for the 2022 season.
Mets, Francisco Lindor agree to contract extension hours before Opening Day
Lindor’s deal is now the third-largest total money ever given to a player in MLB history. The only contracts that top that are Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout ($426.5 million) and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts ($365 million). Additionally, Lindor will make $1 million more than San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who earned a 14-year, $340 million this offseason, making Lindor the highest-paid shortstop in league history.
The Mets initially offered a 10-year, $325 million extension to Lindor earlier this week, while the shortstop pushed for $385 million over 12 seasons.
New York acquired Lindor in exchange for shortstops Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, right-handed pitcher Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Greene. Lindor made his debut for the Mets this spring, recording a .370 batting average, a 1.063 OPS, four home runs, 14 RBI and 20 hits in 17 games (54 at-bats).
During his six years in Cleveland, Lindor slashed .285/.346/.488 while accumulating 138 home runs, 411 RBI, 508 runs scored and 896 hits. Lindor is a four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glove winner and one-time Platinum Glove winner.
After a tense stare-down, Lindor is officially the shortstop of the Mets until the conclusion of the 2031 season. He will formally introduce himself to the fans on Thursday night, when the Mets take on the rival Washington Nationals.