Why Mets All-Star Francisco Lindor is still in the 'same boat' after J.D. Martinez pickup

Shortstop Francisco Lindor made it known Friday he feels roughly the same about the 2024 New York Mets as he did before the club's agreement with designated hitter J.D. Martinez on a one-year, $12M deal. 

Per Ben Krimmel of SNY, Lindor acknowledged ahead of the Mets' spring training game against the New York Yankees that getting Martinez puts the Amazin's "in a much better spot because we have a really good hitter." Lindor added that he believed the Mets were "good enough to be where we want to be" with or without the 36-year-old in the lineup. 

"I'm still in the same boat," Lindor explained. "We gotta play the game the right way. We gotta back each other up. We gotta continue to believe in each other. And then let everybody else believe in us later on."

Lindor, outfielder Brandon Nimmo and All-Star closer Edwin Diaz are among noteworthy Mets players who have previously suggested they cared little about how the current squad has been viewed by outsiders following what Krimmel referred to as "a mild offseason compared to the past two" for the organization. As of late Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Mets' over/under win total for this year at 81.5 games while PECOTA projections shared by Baseball Prospectus had the 2024 Mets at around 83.4 regular-season victories. 

"...I don't feel like I'm an underdog," Lindor said. "We're in a good spot. And actually, we're in the same spot as everybody else is. Nobody has won a game yet, So, we'll be good. We'll be a good team."

Few guessed when Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns teased earlier this week that the club would "take our shots" in free agency, he meant making a significant splash before Opening Day. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported late Friday morning that Martinez will "build up with minor league at-bats" during a stint that likely will last around "10 days" or so before he joins the big-league club. 

"It's been a good spring training so far and I feel like the team and the boys are moving in the right direction," Lindor said.

He and his teammates will look to get pointed in that direction when the Mets open the regular season with a home series versus the Milwaukee Brewers this coming Thursday.