Francisco Lindor recruiting Michael Conforto to sign long-term deal with Mets?
For a piece published on the official MLB website on March 1, Anthony DiComo noted how four-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor had already become a leader in the New York Mets' clubhouse less than two months after he joined the Amazins via a trade from the Cleveland Indians.
By the final hour of that month, Lindor agreed to a 10-year extension worth $341 million to commit the remainder of his physical prime to the Mets. Now less than two full weeks into the club's regular-season schedule, the 27-year-old is working on his next piece of business: recruiting one-time All-Star outfielder and to-be free agent Michael Conforto to put pen to paper on a new deal.
"I'm looking forward to the day he, God willing, does sign here and I can say he's going to be a teammate of mine for a very long time," Lindor told reporters when speaking about Conforto's early-season struggles at the plate, controversial elbow aside. Lindor also explained that he has attempted to bolster Conforto's confidence at the dish during conversations.
Conforto, 28, has reportedly not been close to signing during recent negotiations, but Lindor's experience showed such situations can change across only a few hours of talks. Back in early February, SNY's Andy Martino suggested an offer of seven years at $175 million total could be enough to keep Conforto in Queens through the bulk of the decade.
More must-reads: