Francisco Lindor Talks Mets' Roster Changes, High Expectations, Bo Bichette, More in B/R Interview

The New York Mets might need name tags at the start of the 2026 season after so much roster turnover, but the team's longest-tenured position player and one of its clubhouse leaders likes what he sees.

"There's a lot of new guys, and they are all great guys," Francisco Lindor told Bleacher Report. "They've been around the league. To be quite honest, it's not about leading as much as it's about everybody bonding and winning. We have to win. That's all that matters. I'm super excited to be with this new group of guys and to get ready to compete day in and day out."

New York lost veteran leaders and fan favorites in Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles), Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers), Brandon Nimmo (Texas Rangers) and Jeff McNeil (Athletics) this offseason, which left the 32-year-old Lindor as a veteran voice who has been with the organization since 2021.

But the front office quickly surrounded him with more talent with the addition of Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr., Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien, among others, and Lindor knows that means he doesn't have to be too hands on and can let his new teammates adjust to their new environment.

"There is a leadership component of doing your thing and being an example and being there for the guys who need it," he said. "That's a must. But the clubhouse and the group of guys we have right now is one of those where they've played the game for a long time. So it's not as much about just leading them."

Bichette is the biggest offensive addition and was one of the most notable moves of the offseason across the entire league.

While there may be an adjustment period in the field as he switches from shortstop to third base, there is no questioning his bat with the ability to hit for average and power. The 28-year-old is a two-time All-Star who led the league in hits in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

He also launched 20 or more home runs in three straight years from 2021 through 2023 and was excellent last season while slashing .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI.

Yet it is "how calm he is" and "how productive his at-bats are" that stand out to Lindor more than just the overall statistical profile.

And those productive at-bats will only elevate the already high expectations in place for the Mets, who are still just one full season removed from their 2024 National League Championship Series appearance.

Bichette, Lindor and Juan Soto are the offensive headliners, but the lineup is also much deeper with the additions of Robert, Polanco and Semien. Throw in Peralta as one of the best pitchers in the league anchoring a talented rotation that also features Nolan McLean and David Peterson, and anything but a deep playoff run will most likely be seen as a disappointment.

Which is just what Lindor wants.

"It doesn't change the mindset," he said of the bar being so high from a team perspective. "It's good to have big expectations. It doesn't change things, that's what you want. We have a chance, while teams that come into a season with low expectations are just like, 'alright, not much is going to happen.' I'm glad we are where we are. Now there are no options but to win."

Delivering on those winning expectations will only give him a bigger national profile and platform to continue his long-running partnership with New Balance.

Lindor signed with the company in 2017 and was a major part of its shift from a company that was best known for its running shoes to one that also has a significant presence on the baseball diamond.

With players such as Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh also partnered with the brand, that presence is only continuing to grow.

"It's incredible to be able to see how they went from a brand that wasn't 'cool' or the desirable one to now everyone wanting to wear it," Lindor said. "At the beginning, it was like, 'oh my, you have New Balance.' And it was like a little fraternity. But now everyone has New Balances, which is dope and very cool.

"New Balance is a family, and that was what attracted me to them in the first place and got me on board. I knew where they were headed, and I wanted to be part of that growth."

The latest development in the partnership was the release of the Lindor 3 baseball cleats, and he said it is "for sure" still surreal to have his own signature line.

"It's definitely a blessing, it's definitely special and something I don't take for granted," Lindor said. "I thank New Balance every day for giving me the opportunity to have my own shoe and to be able to collaborate with them. Their shoe designers are great people, and to be able to have my ideas match with them and then they have their ideas and the shoe comes out, it's incredible."

If everything goes according to plan, he will take the field in his New Balances for Thursday's Opening Day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Lindor has been known for his durability throughout his career and has appeared in more than 150 games in seven different seasons, including in each of the last four. However, there was some injury concern in Spring Training as he recovered from a broken hamate bone.

The shortstop underwent surgery on Feb. 11 but progressed throughout Spring Training with different steps, including just playing the field and not hitting during his first game action of Spring Training.

He targeted Opening Day throughout the process, and that hasn't changed now that the season has arrived.

"Opening Day is still the plan," Lindor said. "The hand is good, or it's good enough. I won't be 100 percent, I promise you that. Nobody is 100 percent when they depend on their body day in and day out. But I'm looking forward to hopefully being out there and ready to play."

That is welcome news for the Mets considering he is one of the best overall players in the league with a resume that includes four Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves and five All-Star selections.

Last season was the seventh time he finished in the top 10 in MVP voting, and he slashed .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs, 86 RBI and 31 stolen bases while showing off his ability to impact the game in a number of ways.

But it is not the chance at another 30-30 campaign or a fourth straight season with more than 30 home runs that he is targeting heading into a new year. Rather, his goals are straightforward.

"Stay healthy and win."

Mets fans couldn't ask for more.