On March 31, 2021, Francisco Lindor made headlines by signing a monumental 10-year, $341 million contract with the New York Mets. This deal included a substantial $21 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $34.1 million. For the 2024 MLB season, Lindor is set to earn $32 million.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has faced significant scrutiny for his performance since signing a massive $300 million contract. No player likes to be judged harshly when struggling, but the pressure is especially intense for those with such a high-profile deal. Lindor has been a prime example of this, as he has not had the success expected of him given his contract. Despite being a defensive wizard on the field, he sometimes experiences slumps that hinder his ability to contribute offensively. However, the statistics show otherwise.

Francisco Lindor is a consistent hitter, arguably performing better in some areas with the Mets than he did with the Cleveland Guardians. For example, Lindor had 98 and 107 RBIs in 2022 and 2023, respectively, surpassing his career high of 92 RBIs set in Cleveland. While Lindor was known for hitting for a high average in Cleveland, his batting average in New York has only exceeded .270 once, during the Mets’ 101-win season. To compensate for the lower batting average, Lindor’s RBI and home run totals have increased, along with his stolen base count. He achieved his first 30/30 HR/SB season with the Mets, demonstrating his well-rounded offensive contributions.

Lindor has not been known for having a high batting average lately and struggles to deliver beyond the ‘big hits’ before the All-Star break. While those big hits are always great, being a player with such a high contract means you need to consistently drive in runs. If you have a low batting average, go on hitless streaks, and struggle to find the zone on a daily basis from day one, it’s clear you will face significant scrutiny and criticism.

Lindor is an All-Star caliber player who has never made it to the All-Star team for the NL. He should have last year, but voters chose Orlando Arcia from the Braves, who ended up having a poor season. Additionally, the shortstop position in the NL has been highly competitive, filled with serious offensive talent, which unfortunately leaves Lindor as one of the players watching the All-Star game from the outside. He always has the numbers to show for it by the end of the season, but he struggles to maintain that level of performance consistently throughout the year.

I speak with high praise of Lindor because I know he is worth the contract. Sometimes, the talent is less valuable than the overall character of the player. For someone receiving a $300 million contract, strong leadership qualities and being great with people are essential. Lindor embodies all that; he is even nicknamed “Mr. Smile.”

However, with the added scrutiny of playing in New York City, star players like Lindor face an increased level of attention. If they perform poorly, it puts more pressure on the other players to pick up the slack. Lindor is a terrific player who may sometimes underperform relative to his contract value, but there’s little we can do except hope he finds his footing and plays consistently well. Health and defense are not issues for Lindor, as his defensive skills significantly boost his WAR for the season. However, it’s hard to defend a player who doesn’t show the necessary progress, progress that demonstrates to the fan base that he is here to stay and will play to the best of his ability with results to match.

Lindor’s base running and fielding values are both 95+ on the Savant metrics, indicating success in those areas. However, he is less proficient in other areas like batting run value, which stands at a 15-run producing value. It’s widely understood that a star is not just about a fancy name that can make the club more likely to win. It’s also about character and the player’s ability to handle pressure and scrutiny. The real stars conform to the pressure and don’t let it break them.

In the end, I believe Lindor is worth the contract; I just need others to see it too and recognize that he is the best! He just needs to prove his worth to the rest of baseball. Even when he ranks among the top three players in the league, many critics won’t acknowledge his value due to perceived weak performance at the plate and inconsistency. This often leads to him being viewed as a weak link in the Mets’ roster. Despite his strong performances, the critics remain unconvinced. Lindor needs to keep playing his best to silence the doubters, leave them no reason to complain, and show everyone in baseball that he truly deserves his contract and plays with purpose and excellence.