Francisco Lindor’s massive $341 million contract has been a large topic of conversation in recent weeks, as the four-time All-Star continues to labor through a brutal month of May at the plate.
The expectations for Lindor are much higher than his current league-average offensive stats, especially after signing a big 10-year deal with the Mets, and Brandon Tierney says that contract was partially due to a new owner who was a bit overly eager to make a big splash and lock up a superstar.
“The inexperience, the arrogance, a little bit of a combo of the two from [Steve] Cohen, flexing financially,” Tierney said.
“He entered the front door with the checkbook, and he outbid himself, because nobody was gonna give him that. But he’s got the money to back it up, and he’s not gonna hurt him.”
Of course, Cohen did not know Lindor would put together such a mediocre season in 2021, though even with that, the shortstop likely still would have commanded a big contract the following winter. But considering he was also league-average at the plate in the shortened 2020 season, perhaps he could have been gotten for less than $34 million per year. But Cohen didn’t want it to get to free agency, and wanted to make sure he locked up his first big acquisition and a face of his new franchise, and, as Tierney said, splurged for more money, which is certainly a part of his arsenal as the richest owner in baseball.
But if Lindor doesn’t start hitting soon, that contract will continue to be brought up for years to come.
“Since he was acquired, how many times have you said, ‘we’ve got an absolute star. This is the guy we need,’” Tierney said. “It’s a very, very ominous start. It’s early, and baseball is cyclical, but there are some bad warning flares that he’s shooting across the sky. He’s got to wake up. He has to.”
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