The Mets are heading into a winter with plenty of questions, and Francisco Lindor is suddenly at the center of one of the strangest ones.
New York was knocked out of postseason contention on Monday, locking in a second straight playoff miss for a team that entered the year with Juan Soto on the roster and bigger expectations attached. Soto is guaranteed to return in 2027, but Lindor’s future has become murkier. Rumors circulated that the Mets listened to trade offers for the five-time All-Star shortstop at the deadline, and FanSided’s Jake Elman thinks the front office could go all the way and move him this offseason.
“We’ve said for months that keeping Lindor in New York is untenable, and he’s spent this season losing what remained of his goodwill with the fan base,” Elman wrote. “Add in his previous feud with Juan Soto and accusations of immaturity, and it’s not hard to understand why we’re advocating for a trade.”
Elman’s guess for Lindor’s next stop is the San Francisco Giants.
“Buster Posey strikes us as a lead baseball executive who will keep throwing money at problems. Acquiring Lindor could force Willy Adames to second base, which might wind up being a net positive. Keep an eye on this situation,” Elman added.
That idea comes with a major obstacle: the contract. It’s tough to see the Giants taking on Lindor without New York absorbing a significant chunk of the money. San Francisco already has big commitments to Adames, Rafael Devers, and Matt Chapman, and adding Lindor would only push the payroll higher.
Yes, Lindor could fit at shortstop if Adames agreed to move to second. But even with that possible alignment, the fit feels shaky. For a Giants team trying to retool, taking on another huge future obligation would be a bold - and risky - move.
In Other News...
Giants Fans Finally Saw Tony Vitello In A Different Light
Tony Vitellos return to Busch Stadium offered Giants fans a different kind of glimpse at the first-year manager, one that had less to do with dugout decisions and more to do with where he came from. A St. Louis native who grew up rooting for the Cardinals, Vitello talked about the pull of childhood memories in that ballpark and the long path that took him from playing and coaching baseball in Missouri to managing in the majors.
It also gave his current club a reminder that this season has been about more than just results. Vitello said he appreciated having family and friends in the stands, and he touched on the experience of guiding the roster through the year while working with players such as Rafael Devers. For a Giants team still learning its manager, the trip back home showed a more personal side of the job, and perhaps a better sense of what drives him. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Offense Went Quiet In A Frustrating Loss To St. Louis
A night that started with a promising look from the Giants quickly turned into another reminder of how thin the margin can be when the bats go quiet. Quinn Mathews worked effectively into the seventh inning for St. Louis, giving up one run while striking out eight, and the Cardinals backed him with just enough offense to escape with a 2-1 win.
San Francisco managed little against the Cardinals pitching and defense after early chances faded, while rookie catcher Leo Bernal kept the home side moving with three hits and an RBI. Alec Burleson delivered the go-ahead single in the fifth, and the St. Louis bullpen handled the rest, with Riley OBrien securing his 37th save as the Giants were left to wonder where the run support went. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Eldridge Is Giving Giants Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Bryce Eldridge has already given Giants fans one of the seasons more encouraging developments, and it has come in the exact kind of matchup that can separate a promising bat from a real one. The rookie has handled left-handed pitching especially well, putting together a .298/.370/.504 line with a 144 wRC+ in 135 plate appearances, production that stands out for a club looking for signs of something sturdier on offense.
Among left-handed hitters with at least 100 plate appearances in same-sided matchups, Eldridge is tied for sixth in wRC+, ahead of names like Shohei Ohtani and Yordan lvarez. For a Giants lineup that has spent much of the season searching for reasons to feel optimistic, that kind of showing matters, and it leaves one obvious question hanging over everything else he might become. [Read more 🡒]