Francisco Lindor has confirmed that extension talks with the Mets have begun, but nothing appears to be close as Opening Day approaches.
Lindor, after crushing his first home run in a Mets uniform, spoke with reporters on a Zoom call Tuesday and said that the two sides have started discussions to keep the star shortstop in New York long term.
"They started, but nothing serious," Lindor said. "We're just talking, We'll see how everything goes."
Lindor was brought over in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland, and the Mets have not been shy in their desire to keep the 27-year-old in orange and blue for years to come. But right now, talks appear to be in the early stages.
"My agent is in charge of that," Lindor said. "That's between the front office and my agent. If I sat here and said 'no, we haven't started,' I'd be lying."
Mets president Sandy Alderson recently expressed optimism that the two sides may be able to continue communicating if a deal wasn't reached by Opening Day, a deadline Lindor previously put in place before he would elect to test free agency, but Lindor stuck with his initial timeline on Tuesday.
"Like I said earlier, I will not be negotiating during the season," Lindor said. "I will go to free agency. if something carries on during the season, that's not fair for me and not fair for the team. I have to give everything I have to winning baseball games."
Lindor was open to an extension with Cleveland before he was traded, and is open to an extension with the Mets, but he will command a deal somewhere in the $300 million range, especially after Fernando Tatis Jr. brought in a $340 million deal this offseason.
Lindor, one of the best shortstops in the game, will see what other teams will offer him in the winter if he and the Mets don't come to an agreement in the next two weeks, with Opening Day coming up on April 1.
"If it doesn't happen in spring training, I'll go to free agency," Lindor said. "We'll talk in November or December whenever free agency starts."
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