Francisco Lindor 

Age: 32 (11/14/1993) B/T: Both/R

Traditional Stats: 105 G, 469 PA, 418 AB, 63 R, 94 H, 12 doubles, 21 home runs, 49 RBIs, 46 BB, 95 SO, .225/.309/.423, .733 OPS
Advanced Stats: .322 wOBA, 105 wRC+, 105 OPS+, .199 ISO, 2.2 FWAR, 1.8 bWAR

2026 Salary: $32,477,821

Grade: C+

Francisco Lindor by Roberto Carlo

2026 REVIEW

Francisco Lindor has endured his fair share of ups and downs in a Mets uniform, but the 2026 season was arguably his most challenging one yet. His season was thrown a huge curveball before it ever really started. The shortstop underwent surgery during the offseason for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. Known to sap power early in the recovery process, Lindor got off to a sluggish start, hitting just two home runs with five RBIs and 19 strikeouts through 24 games. If that wasn’t bad enough, any chance of settling into a groove was soon wiped out with Lindor placed on the IL with a left calf strain.

Upon his eventual return to the team in late June, Lindor’s woes continued. He hit just .216/.298/.373 with a .671 OPS and five home runs in the first half of the year. Consequently, the shortstop saw his name frequently come up in trade talks. It was an unfair development for a player who time and time again gave his all in a Mets uniform.

Of course, all of the negative talk around Lindor’s game wasn’t helped by his play defensively. Usually a Gold Glove caliber shortstop, Lindor was a mess out in the field. He committed 11 errors in 103 games, just two fewer errors than the 13 he made in 158 games the previous year. Furthermore, Lindor committed a number of embarrassing brain farts. He also seemed unable to make even the most routine of defensive plays.

Eventually, Lindor proved that his struggles were down to missing so much time with injury. He began to look more like his old self following the All-Star break. The infielder mashed 12 home runs with 25 RBIs down the stretch. Lindor also finished strong, including hitting his 300th career home run. As a result, he became just the second switch-hitter in MLB history to record 300 home runs and 200 career stolen bases. Then, to cap off a rollercoaster of a season, Lindor was named the winner of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for his community work off the field.

Francisco Lindor by Roberto Carlo

2027 OUTLOOK

Lindor was certainly impacted by health issues throughout the 2026 season. He was never able to find his rhythm, and it showed. However, any talk of Lindor regressing as a player is premature. He showed at the end of the season that he can still be a high-impact player both offensively and defensively.

If Lindor can stay healthy, he profiles as an elite player at the top of the Mets lineup. Yes, he will probably start slow as he’s inclined to do, but expect him to finish as one of the team’s best offensive performers. Additionally, he showed at the end of last season that he can still be solid with the glove.

Overall, Lindor will enter 2027 as the Mets’ everyday shortstop. He can still be a game-changer, and he still offers this team a lot of value. An injury-ravaged year in 2026 shouldn’t scare people away. Don’t be surprised if he authors a monster bounce-back season on both sides of the ball in 2027.