- Oct 16, 2026
- 0
- 0
SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
Francisco Lindor endured the most difficult season of his career in 2026, batting .225/.309/.423 with 21 home runs and a 105 wRC+ as the Mets finished 74-88 and missed the playoffs despite preseason expectations.
The 33-year-old shortstop missed two months with a strained left calf beginning in April, limiting him to 105 games, his lowest non-pOVID total since 2015. He had returned from February hamate fracture surgery to make the Opening Day roster. Lindor posted career-worst marks with a .309 on-base percentage, 20.3 percent strikeout rate, minus-4 defensive runs saved and zero outs above average.
Despite the struggles, Statcast data showed career-best 91.6 mph average exit velocity and 49.5 percent hard-hit rate. His batting average on balls in play of .242 sat well below his .289 career mark and league average. After returning June 24, he posted a 109 wRC+, including a 139 mark in July.
The Mets face an infield logjam with prospect Jefferson Rojas at Triple-A Syracuse and Bo Bichette projected to remain at third base. "Lindor may move to second base eventually, but it may not happen next year," Darragh McDonald of MLBTR wrote. Lindor averaged 6.4 fWAR from 2022-25 but dropped to 2.2 in 2026.
Source: MLB Trade Rumors - Sun Oct 25, 4:03 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).