​The New York Mets have drawn a firm line in the sand ahead of the MLB trade deadline, and Francisco Lindor could be on the wrong side of it. The team entered the season with hopes of returning to the postseason and challenging for a World Series, but a sharp April collapse and a failure to rebound left them at the bottom of the standings. With the Mets mired in the league’s cellar, insiders say leadership is preparing for a fire-sale at the upcoming deadline.
That strategy could involve Lindor, as a new report outlines the club’s definitive stance on the struggling star. New York Post columnist Jon Heyman revealed on Thursday that the Mets have only a handful of untouchable players heading into next month’s trade deadline, and Lindor is not among them. “Mets have moved into sell mode, via league sources,” Heyman wrote on X. “Word is they’ll consider basically anyone but Soto, Benge, Ewing, McLean and Scott, though Lindor’s still seen as a long shot to move.” Heyman added that both Lindor and offseason addition Bo Bichette could be moved for the right price, though the likelihood of either leaving Queens remains low.
“Lindor and Bichette trades aren’t thought especially likely, but they’re in discussions, as is any desirable player not among the five Mets considered off-limits,” Heyman noted, adding that there are other reports indicating Lindor is involved in trade talks. Lindor has struggled this season, slashing .210 with five home runs, while also contending with injuries and defensive lapses. SNY reporter Chelsea Janes indicated that the Mets plan an aggressive approach to the deadline, leaving virtually any player available for discussion. The club has already made some moves, including shipping David Peterson to the injury-plagued Chicago Cubs last month.
“As the second half opens Thursday night, it appears the moment has arrived: a rival executive said the Mets informed their squad that the sale is on, and that everyone except young stars Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean, and the obvious, Juan Soto, is available,” Janes reported. “That doesn’t mean every player will depart, but it signals that the Mets will listen on nearly everyone, which aligns with what people familiar with their thinking have signaled for weeks.”
The Mets could also influence the market for other teams, with Janes noting that they do not intend to wait until the days immediately preceding the deadline to start making moves. “The fact that the Mets are fielding calls already suggests they will spread their sell-off over several weeks rather than waiting until the week of the deadline, when the market is more settled and time constraints create a more frenetic process,” Janes wrote. Some executives contend that selling earlier could help with visibility and market dynamics, while others argue that waiting could create a more favorable bargaining environment as more teams identify themselves as buyers or sellers.