Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
While the Mets await the opportunity to interview candidates for the vacancy atop their baseball operations department this offseason, a report today from Fansided by Robert Murray indicates that $341 million man Francisco Lindor is wasting no time waiting for a new hire, urging the team to re-sign free agent to-be Javier Baez.
The report from Murray indicates that Lindor “is pushing the Mets to re-sign Báez,” and further that “(Lindor) has the ear of owner Steve Cohen and might have enough sway to get Cohen to keep Báez in New York long-term, no matter the cost.”
While the Mets have staggered to a 19-31 record since acquiring Báez on July 30th, the team’s struggles cannot be pinned on their primary second baseman, who has reached base safely in 16 straight games and is hitting .415/.520/.683 in that stretch. In addition to displaying impressive (and uncharacteristic) plate discipline, Báez has shown off his trademark defense since arriving in Flushing, and even added some speed and aggressiveness on the base paths to a team that has lacked players with those traits in recent years.
Báez, in just 39 games, already ranks fourth among Mets position players with his 1.8 WAR since joining the team at the trade deadline.
Still, some Mets fans might shutter at the implication that Lindor, who has failed to meet the lofty expectations most placed on him heading into the 2021 season, might wield enough power within the organization to keep Báez in New York, “no matter the cost.”
It is shaping up to be a fascinating offseason for whomever will be making the decisions at 41 Seaver Way.
