The Mets made the biggest blockbuster of the winter by adding Carlos Carrasco and Francisco Lindor on Thursday, but that comes with a caveat: Lindor could be a full-season rental, as he is in his final year of arbitration eligibility and is, as of now, due to be a free agent next winter.
And after one day in New York, that remains true, but Mets GM Jared Porter admitted to Moose & Maggie on Friday that the brass is comfortable if it indeed ends up a one-year relationship.
“We are comfortable with that, and there’s some draft pick capital that comes with it potentially,” Porter said in his WFAN appearance. “These things can be complicated, but we’ll see what happens. We had to approach the deal with that mindset.”
That said, the Mets would obviously love to have Lindor long-term, but it’s not just up to the team.
“It’s important to remember that for the long-term, these things have two sides,” Porter said. “In his case, he’s a very well-thought out person. He’s been patient, and for him it’s going to be important to get to know us and our culture. It’s a two-way street, and a big part of that is the direction he wants to go in.”
Porter was asked whether or not the Mets got an “exclusive window” this week to try to negotiate an extension, but admitted that those aren’t exactly common anymore.
“It doesn’t really happen anymore…the last example I can think of is maybe Mookie Betts,” Porter said. “When I was in Boston and we traded for Adrian Gonzalez, I think Theo Epstein had a window to negotiate. But you have to be careful, because players have more power now than ever, so sometimes a window can hurt a deal more than help.”
Whether it’s one year or a long time, though, the Mets love what they have in Lindor.
“He’s 27, well-rounded, and one of the best players in the game,” Porter said. “He’s a switch hitter who controls the zone well, is an above-average defensive shortstop, and is a great baserunner. And, he’s charismatic and always smiling…those are the kinds of guys you want to have, and will lead you to where you want to get to.”
Check out Porter's entire interview with Moose & Maggie below!
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