“Lindor checks every single box for what you would want in a franchise player,” Meisel said. “He’s a well-rounded hitter, he hits for power, hits for average, he’s batted leadoff, he’s hit third, he’s hit fourth, he can steal bases, he’s an elite defensive shortstop with a couple of Gold Glove awards to his name. He’s grown into a leader of the clubhouse, he’s bilingual so he can connect with a lot of people, and really since Day 1, his major league debut against Detroit in 2015, he has been polished, professional, intelligent. And I know a lot of times those words get thrown around pretty regularly, but with him it really is the truth. He’s 27 years old but you’d think he’s been playing in the league for 15 years.
“He really embodies everything you would want when you’re trying to decide what type of players do you want to hand over one of those mega contracts to. He really does check every box.”
The big question, of course, is whether or not the Mets will be able to sign Lindor to a long-term deal before he reaches free agency after the 2021 season.
So just how much could the shortstop be looking for?
“His stance was always ‘I’m willing to listen and I would sign for the right price.’ The issue is he never revealed what that price is,” said Meisel. “He did say that the Indians never offered him $300 million – that was in the spring—and that’s just kind of what I would go off of in terms of what he was looking for.
“Now, that was pre-pandemic, that was pre- a pedestrian season, even in a small sample, but I think that gives you an idea, and the fact that he was willing to meet with the Indians camp during spring training, the owner flew down to Arizona and they tried to hash things out. It never got close, but I do think there is a way to get him to sign before free agency, it’s just you’re going to have to meet him at his price. I don’t think he’s willing to settle.”
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