It's clear that the New York Mets went into the upcoming season with no plans of truly competing for a World Series title.
The front office and owner took a measured approach during the winter, something that was different from how the franchise has operated in the past.
Without making major additions, this will give the coaching staff and new front office a chance to evaluate the star prospects on this roster who are getting more playing time to see who factors into their future plans.
But don't tell the players not to compete for a championship.
The Mets still fully plan on contending this year, something that should be music to the ears of fans everywhere.
Getting high-level performances from their established stars will go a long way in helping that effort.
New York's superstar Francisco Lindor is hoping he can build upon the successful two seasons he had in 2022 and 2023 after getting his tenure off to a rocky start when first joining the franchise in 2021.
He's bashed 57 home runs and added 205 RBI with OPS+ numbers of 125 and 120 the past two years after slashing a disappointing .230/.322/.412 in the first season of his $341 million deal.
Lindor was an eye-catching performer during their full-squad workout, hitting the club's first homer of the spring in live batting practice while also lacing a double according to Mike Puma of The New York Post.
This provides optimism that the switch-hitter can put up another big season.
The 30-year-old is a four-time All-Star but hasn't earned that honor since his penultimate year with Cleveland back in 2019.
Coming off a Silver Slugger award last season, Lindor is hoping he can have another dominant year at the plate and guide the Mets to a surprisingly successful showing based on expectations place upon the team.
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