Mets' Francisco Lindor and Edwin Diaz want Carlos Beltran back in the organization

Carlos Beltran, arguably the greatest position player in Mets history and certainly their best free agent signing, made his first appearance at Citi Field since the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal cost him his managerial job in 2020 before it began.

If star players Francisco Lindor and Edwin Diaz had their way, Beltran would once again be a member of the organization.

“Would I like him to be with the team?” Lindor said Thursday, after Beltran joined other past recipients of the Roberto Clemente Award on the field for pregame ceremonies. “Of course. One hundred percent.”

Diaz responded to the question with the same phrase: “Of course. He knows so much about baseball. He can help the youngest players to develop. He was one of the best players in baseball. I think he should be in the Hall of Fame.”

Players from Puerto Rico, like Lindor and Diaz, hold a special reverence for Beltran, and not just because of his playing career. Beltran is known for mentoring players of all cultures, a passion he extends to his baseball academy in Puerto Rico.

“He means a lot,” Lindor said. “He's not only making baseball players through the way he played, like he inspired them to play the game the way he plays. He's also doing it by having an academy and teaching these young kids how to be baseball players. I have so much respect for him -- for the things he has done in his career, and he’s even better off the field.”

When MLB released its report about the 2017 Astros in 2020, it pointedly named Beltran as a player involved in their sign-stealing scheme. That led the Mets to dismiss him as manager. Because Beltran was no longer an active player during the investigation, the MLBPA did not provide him with legal representation during his meeting with investigators.

In reality, nearly every Houston player was involved in the sign stealing. Subsequent claims that Beltran pressured players to cheat were untrue, according to multiple members of that 2017 Astros team.

“I think a lot of things were thrown on him,” Lindor said. “Whether it was true or not, I think there should have been a little bit more of a silence, I would say.”

While Alex Cora returned to manage in Boston and A.J. Hinch began a job in Detroit, Beltran remained in exile through last season before taking a part-time job broadcasting Yankees games.

While he was still out of baseball, Beltran quietly helped Lindor through a challenging first season in New York.

“He was the one that helped me find realtors and doctors around here when I first came here,” Lindor said. “Where to live, you know, things like that. When I was struggling a lot last year I talked to him a lot. He’s amazing.

“He reached out to me and I reached out to him after that. Him and Carlos Delgado. Those two guys, I've talked to them a lot. Beltran, If I’m struggling or going through good times [I’ll say] ‘Hey, what you got for me? I'm going good. But I want to be better.’ Or, ‘Hey, I'm not feeling good. What should I do?’ He’ll say, ‘Hey, good job. I saw your home run last night. Keep it up.’ Stuff like that. It's a real relationship.”

Lindor also noted Beltran’s contribution to Spanish-speaking players in spearheading the efforts to require teams to hire translators for him.

“That's something that people might not know,” Lindor said. “But he was one of the ones that fought for that. International players, Asians mostly had translators. The Latinos didn't have it and he fought for that. I respect that.”

Added Diaz: “Beltran means a lot. He’s doing so much for kids in Puerto Rico. He’s got his own baseball academy. He helped a lot of people from where he is from. He is one of the best players ever from Puerto Rico and off the field is doing so many great things.”

Both players made clear that they already had a manager in Buck Showalter, and weren’t advocating for Beltran or anyone else to take that job. And Lindor said that Beltran should only return if he feels ready.

“He’s with the Yankees on the TV broadcast,” Lindor said. “Hopefully when he gets back to wanting to be on the field or front office, whatever he wants to do, I hope he gets the opportunity. Would I want him to be here? One hundred percent. Whether it be here or somewhere else, I would be happy for him.”