MLB execs weigh in on magnitude of Mets' Francisco Lindor deal: 'They're a superpower now'

From the start, Steve Cohen has made a point of saying he’s not in competition with the Yankees, and yet that’s exactly the image he conjured up with his first big move as the new owner of the Mets, trading with the Indians for superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco. At least in the eyes of others in the baseball world.

“I know it lines up as more like what the Dodgers did getting Mookie Betts,” one rival team executive told me, “but to me it’s the kind of thing the Yankees have done forever. The Mets took advantage of a small-market team in a difficult financial climate.

“They didn’t have to give up anything resembling equal value because they have an owner with deep pockets who is willing to take on big salaries. I don’t think they’re done either. I’ll be surprised if they don’t sign (George) Springer too. It’s pretty simple: they’re a superpower now.”

Another exec laughed and asked me: “Is anyone calling them the Evil Empire yet?”

Yes, it was that kind of day for the Mets, as Cohen began making good on the lofty expectations that come with his status as the richest owner in baseball.

Sandy Alderson and Jared Porter had already made a couple of savvy moves, signing reliever Trevor May and catcher James McCann, but the trade with the Indians on Thursday is the blockbuster deal that allows fans to dream of a championship in 2021, never mind the three-to-five-year window that Cohen publicly set as a goal.

Maybe that’s still shooting a bit high, considering the Dodgers will be loaded again next season; the Padres have made some all-in moves in trading for Blake Snell and Yu Darvish; and the three-time defending NL East champion Braves still have a significant edge in starting pitching.

But the trade for Lindor and Carrasco certainly gives the Mets a shot, adding a much-needed quality starting pitcher as well as home-run power and spectacular defense at the shortstop position.

No less significant, as the rival execs suggest, the deal was as symbolic as significant, indicating that anything is possible in this offseason, including the idea the Mets could still land Springer, their No. 1 free-agent target at the top of the market.

Scouts I spoke to agreed Springer is still a difference-making piece for the Mets that could put them over the top.

“This trade makes them serious contenders in their division,” one scout said, “but I think they need Springer if they’re going to be on the same level with the Braves. They’re not going to be able to match them in the starting rotation, but adding Springer and Lindor at the top of their lineup would give them more firepower, especially if the Braves don’t re-sign (Marcell) Ozuna.

“You get to October with that lineup and (Jacob) deGrom at the top of your rotation, plus a solid bullpen, and anything could happen.”

Alderson was coy during his Zoom call with reporters on Thursday but he certainly didn’t rule out adding Springer, saying that where the Mets go from here “is going to be a function of the marketplace.”

That would simply mean waiting for Springer to lower his asking price, especially as the Mets’ payroll is closing in on the luxury-tax threshold, but in that sense alone Alderson gained more leverage with Thursday’s trade, as Lindor’s presence could allow the Mets to justify pursuing Jackie Bradley Jr. for his defense in center field at a lower cost.

One thing for sure: Alderson and the newcomer Porter won more trust with Mets’ fans by quietly negotiating with the Indians and ultimately making a trade that was both smart and simply too good to pass up.

Alderson, remember, had created a sense the Mets weren’t likely to make a big trade because he repeatedly said he wanted to protect his limited prospect depth. And it was only last week that Cohen on Twitter congratulated the Padres for acquiring Snell while writing, “Newsflash, the Mets farm system needs to be replenished.”

As it turned out, however, in this pandemic-depressed market, there were very few teams willing to even consider taking on Lindor’s expected $20 million salary for 2021, knowing he can be a free agent after the season.

And with the Indians’ front office under orders to lower payroll dramatically, they had no choice but to take the best offer they could find, for Lindor as well as Carrasco, who has two more years and $24 million on his contract, plus an option year for $14 million or a $3 million buyout.

A source said the Indians pushed for better prospects than the two they received, Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene, in addition to major leaguers Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, but the Mets wouldn’t budge on blue-chippers such as Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, Matthew Allan, Francisco Alvarez, and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“We gave up two prospects but they weren’t part of our top six or seven,” said Alderson. “We said we weren’t going to trade our top prospects, and this trade respects that.”

Ultimately, however, the deal got done because of Cohen’s willingness to take on $32 million for 2021, as well as the confidence that he’ll be able to sign Lindor long-term. Indeed, while Alderson said the Mets were comfortable with the trade just looking at 2021, the feeling around baseball is that Lindor will be in Queens for years to come.

“There are going to be some really good shortstops on the free-agent market next winter,” one rival exec said, “but I don’t think you give up a good-looking kid like Gimenez if you don’t think you can sign Lindor long-term.”

Not if the Mets are, as Thursday’s trade suggests, the new superpower in baseball.