Francisco Lindor

What can the New York Mets expect at the plate from Francisco Lindor during the 2022 MLB season? And what will be good enough?

Scott Boras is already marketing his new client, even while the owners and players are making little headway on a new collective bargaining agreement."It fits all organizations," he told Mark Berman of Fox when asked which teams should pursue superstar free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa. "We've seen organizations that are in development mode go out and get players like that. We've seen organizations that want to sustain championship levels like you would expect in Houston. And then we've seen organizations who are close but not quite there go and get these types of players." Scott Boras on # of teams who may try to sign Carlos Correa:"We've seen organizations n development mode get players like that&we've seen organizations that want to sustain championship levels,like u would expect in Houston-It's always good business to have the rarity of players pic.twitter.com/cRYkywszjb Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 20, 2022 After entering the offseason with different representation, Correa retained Boras earlier this week as his new agent. Known for getting the most for his clients, Boras landed huge deals for a couple of players prior to the lockout, including Corey Seager's $325-million deal and Marcus Semien's $175-million contract with the Texas Rangers."He has all the elements that create what we have normally seen as valuations at the top, at the Everest, of what contracts should be," Boras continued when asked if Seager's contract helps inform Correa's market.Correa, 27, opened the offseason reportedly seeking a deal that would exceed Francisco Lindor's $341-million extension with the New York Mets. Reports indicate not much has changed for the two-time All-Star, and he will be seeking a deal worth $330-350 million once the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.The former first overall pick has been tied to multiple teams this winter, including the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and incumbent Astros. With Seager signed, he's the top shortstop remaining on the market. Trevor Story is his most direct competition.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even in the midst of a lockout, star free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa is taking steps toward securing the record contract he's long wanted.Correa hired Scott Boras as his agent, he told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Tuesday."I have made the decision to hire Boras Corporation to represent me moving forward," the 27-year-old said in a statement to ESPN. "Boras Corporation offers the highest level of baseball expertise and proven experience." I followed up and asked Correa why he chose to change representation during the lockout. He said he preferred not to answer any questions and referred to his statement. Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2022 Boras is one of the most powerful agents in sports and has negotiated record contracts for some of baseball's biggest modern superstars. In the weeks leading up to the lockout, his clients signed deals worth over $600 million combined, including Corey Seager's 10-year, $325-million contract with the Texas Rangers and Max Scherzer's three-year, $130-million agreement with the New York Mets.Correa became a free agent after one of the best seasons of his career with the Houston Astros. He slashed .279/.366/.485 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs for the AL champions, taking home his first career Gold Glove and Platinum Glove awards in the process.His negotiations with Houston stalled before the 2021 season, and he reportedly rejected the team's five-year, $160-million offer following the World Series. He's apparently trying to break Francisco Lindor's record $341-million contract for a shortstop.The Chicago Cubs reportedly had serious interest in Correa prior to the lockout but were hesitant about giving him a 10-year deal. Correa's believed to have rejected the Detroit Tigers' 10-year, $275-million offer. Detroit eventually signed Javier Baez.Correa was previously represented by WME Sports' Jon Rosen. The agency's certification with the MLB players' association is apparently in jeopardy after parent company Endeavor purchased 10 minor-league teams, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The trade market has always been a popular way for teams to improve their rosters ahead of, or during, the regular season. That shouldn't change in 2022, even with Major League Baseball's current work stoppage throwing a wrench into clubs' negotiating plans.With that being said, here are 15 American League players who could end up in different uniforms this season.For the NL list, click here.*All table stats are from 2021*Salary projections courtesy of MLB Trade RumorsBaltimore Orioles: Trey Mancini, 1B/DH Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $7.9 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 616 21 71 .758 0.6 Trading Mancini after his well-documented recovery from colon cancer would be an unpopular decision, but the AL Comeback Player of the Year might be too expensive for the rebuilding Orioles. The 29-year-old is projected to earn $7.9 million through arbitration, which would make him appealing for a team with a larger payroll.Boston Red Sox: Bobby Dalbec, 1B G Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $575,000 PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 453 25 78 .792 0.7 Dalbec finished strong after an inconsistent debut campaign as the Red Sox starting first baseman, but he was essentially absent from the postseason with Boston opting to play Kyle Schwarber instead. With Triston Casas close to MLB ready and the Red Sox linked to Schwarber and Freddie Freeman in free agency, now might be the time to sell high on Dalbec.Chicago White Sox: Craig Kimbrel, RP Ron Vesely / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $16 million IP ERA FIP SV K/9 59.2 2.26 2.43 24 15.1 Kimbrel didn't pan out for the White Sox in a set-up role after they acquired him at last year's trade deadline. He's still an elite reliever, as evidenced by his 15.1 strikeouts per nine from a season ago, so a team in need of a closer could have him if they'd be willing to take on the $16 million remaining in his contract.Cleveland Guardians: Jose Ramirez, 3B Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $11 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 636 36 103 .893 6.3 Ramirez is owed just $25 million over the next two campaigns - if his 2023 option is exercised - and is coming off his fourth MVP-type season in the last five years. The Guardians could fetch a haul for the three-time All-Star equal to, or greater than, what they received last year for Francisco Lindor if they choose to trade him sooner rather than later.Detroit Tigers: Joe Jimenez, RP Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $1.8 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 45.1 5.96 5.22 1.52 11.3 It wasn't long ago that Jimenez looked like a long-term solution at closer for the Tigers, but things changed with Gregory Soto's emergence and Michael Fulmer's successful bullpen transition. Jimenez had trouble with walks and keeping runs off the board in 2021, but he could be an affordable late-inning bargain for teams if he can rediscover his 2018 All-Star form.Houston Astros: Jake Odorizzi, SP Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $5 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 104.2 4.21 4.48 1.25 7.8 There isn't room for Odorizzi in the Astros' rotation with Justin Verlander returning to join Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, and Jose Urquidy in Houston's starting five. The veteran right-hander is only owed $5 million in 2022, which means he could be traded to a team in need of a starting pitcher.Kansas City Royals: Whit Merrifield, 2B Ed Zurga / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $2.75 million PA 2B SB OPS fWAR 720 42 40 .711 3.2 Another year, another Merrifield trade rumor. Only this time, the Royals could be as serious as ever about trading the two-time All-Star who posted his lowest OPS since his rookie campaign. With that being said, he still led the AL in doubles and steals, making him a valuable trade piece for the Royals. Kansas City has younger players in Nicky Lopez, Adalberto Mondesi, and Bobby Witt Jr. ready to play regularly.Los Angeles Angels: Justin Upton, OF Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022 salary: $28 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 362 17 41 .705 0.3 The Angels don't have many valuable trade chips - at least ones they'd be willing to part with - so Upton is our choice here. A team might be interested in trading for the four-time All-Star if Los Angeles was willing to eat most of his salary or take on another bad contract.Minnesota Twins: Josh Donaldson, 3B Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $21 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 543 26 72 .827 2.2 The former AL MVP still rakes, as evidenced by his 127 OPS+ last season. But his $21-million salary is also a financial burden for the Twins, who only managed 73 wins in 2021. Minnesota is in a good position to go with a younger, more affordable team if they so choose, which makes trading the 36-year-old a likely scenario.New York Yankees: Gary Sanchez, C Elsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $7.9 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 440 23 54 .730 1.5 Sanchez has been on shaky ground with the Yankees for more than a season, and he didn't do much to quiet the noise in 2021 after hitting .204 with a 99 OPS+. He's projected to earn $7.9 million in arbitration and still has thunder in his bat. These points make him an appealing option to clubs willing to overlook his defensive inefficiencies or who prefer to use him as a DH.Oakland Athletics: Chris Bassitt, SP Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $8.8 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 157.1 3.15 3.34 1.06 9.1 Oakland has plenty of trade chips to choose from this offseason, with Bassitt, Matt Olson, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Sean Murphy all reportedly available. With Bassitt only due $8.8 million through arbitration, there should be plenty of interest in the 32-year-old right-hander, who was in the midst of a Cy Young caliber season in 2021 before he was struck in the face by a line drive in August.Seattle Mariners: Drew Steckenrider, RP Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $2.1 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 67.2 2.00 3.35 1.02 7.7 The Mariners appear to be more interested in adding players than subtracting them, but if they did have to deal someone, Steckenrider could go. The 31-year-old was a completely different pitcher in Seattle after a horrible 2019 campaign with the Miami Marlins, which was followed by him missing all of 2020 due to injury. With relievers so volatile and Steckenrider's $2.1-million salary so low, the Mariners have good reason to trade him now while there's a market for his services.Tampa Bay Rays: Manuel Margot, OF Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $5 million PA RBI SB DRS fWAR 464 57 13 13 1.4 The Rays have received trade interest in Kevin Kiermaier this offseason, but his $12-million salary may be too much for some clubs to stomach. Margot, however, is only projected to earn $5 million through arbitration and possesses similarly outstanding defensive numbers to Kiermaier - both players recorded 13 defensive runs saved in the outfield last season. Margot is also four years younger than Kiermaier.Texas Rangers: Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $4.9 million PA AVG RBI DRS fWAR 677 .271 53 10 2.3 Kiner-Falefa did a terrific job in his first season as Rangers shortstop, recording 10 defensive runs saved, but his time at the position is up after Texas signed Corey Seager. Kiner-Falefa could slide over to third base, but there's reported interest in him from teams in need of a shortstop, including the Yankees, so he could be dealt instead.Toronto Blue Jays: Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022 salary: $4.5 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 541 21 84 .785 1.5 The Blue Jays have an overabundance of outfielders. While Randal Grichuk has been a popular name tied to Blue Jays trade rumors, Gurriel has more value and could be the type of player Toronto has to move in order to make a substantial gain for its big-league roster. Gurriel is also in his prime years and ineligible for free agency until 2025.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The offseason may be on hold, but you can expect teams to start picking up the phones once the collective bargaining agreement is figured out. Free agency should be very active once the work stoppage is over, but don't forget about the trade market, which is a terrific avenue for teams to improve.With that said, here are 15 National League players who could be wearing a new uniform in 2022.*All table stats are from 2021*Salary projections courtesy of MLB Trade RumorsArizona Diamondbacks: Ketel Marte, OF Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $8 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 374 14 50 .909 2.9 Marte would fetch a large haul if Arizona decides to rebuild. The 28-year-old owns a .318/.374/.543 slash line with 48 homers and 159 RBIs in 279 games over the last three seasons. He's also under contract through 2024 on a team-friendly deal with multiple club options.Atlanta Braves: Travis d'Arnaud, C Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022 salary: $8 million PA HR RBI DRS fWAR 229 7 26 4 0.6 The Braves can afford to deal d'Arnaud after inking veteran backstop Manny Pina. D'Arnaud hit seven homers with a .671 OPS in 60 games during another injury-plagued campaign, while Pina went deep 13 times with a .732 OPS over 75 contests for the Brewers last season. Pina is also much cheaper, as his $4-million salary will cost Atlanta half of what d'Arnaud is set to make in 2022.Chicago Cubs: Willson Contreras, C Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $8.7 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 483 21 57 .778 2.1 The writing is on the wall for Contreras in Chicago. The Cubs' front office has shown it's not afraid to deal veterans, and the two-time All-Star is one of the last remaining pieces from the 2016 championship team. The club also signed catcher Yan Gomes to a multi-year contract in free agency.Cincinnati Reds: Luis Castillo, SP Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $7.6 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 187.2 3.98 3.75 1.36 9.2 The 2019 All-Star could be the victim of a Reds salary dump. Cincinnati already got rid of Tucker Barnhart and Wade Miley for basically nothing. Castillo would be a good trade option for any team that fails to upgrade its rotation through free agency.Colorado Rockies: Raimel Tapia, OF Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $3.9 million PA 2B RBI SB fWAR 533 26 50 20 0.4 Tapia's ability to hit and steal bases makes him an attractive trade target. The 27-year-old owns a .286 average with 28 steals across 184 games over the last two years. He's also projected to make $3.9 million in 2022 for a Rockies team that isn't expected to do much.Los Angeles Dodgers: Gavin Lux, 2B Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2022 salary: $573,000 PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 381 7 46 .692 1.0 The Dodgers have been trying to find a way to consistently get Lux into their starting lineup, and the results have been mixed. The 24-year-old only slashed .242/.328/.364 last season while playing poor defense at four different positions outside of his natural spot at second base. With Chris Taylor re-signed and likely to get most of the reps at second, Lux could be on the move.Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Hader, RP Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $10 million IP ERA SV FIP K/9 58.2 1.23 34 1.69 15.6 The three-time NL Reliever of the Year has been mentioned in trade rumors over the last few campaigns. It remains to be seen if the Brewers, a club not known for giving out big contracts, will ink Hader to a large extension with Devin Williams ready to take over as the closer. Hader has two more arbitration-eligible seasons before reaching free agency.Miami Marlins: Pablo Lopez, SP Eric Espada / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $2.5 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 102.2 3.07 3.29 1.12 10.1 The Marlins' rotation depth is strong, which could lead to a potential trade of Lopez to open up a spot for one of their budding hurlers like Sixto Sanchez, Braxton Garrett, or Max Meyer. Lopez has posted a sub-4.00 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning over the past two seasons and is tied to an affordable salary through arbitration in 2022.New York Mets: Jeff McNeil, IF/OF Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $2.8 million PA 2B RBI DRS fWAR 426 19 35 5 0.5 McNeil is reportedly on the trade block after a disastrous 2021 campaign, which included an altercation with Francisco Lindor. The 2019 All-Star hit .311 or better in three straight seasons before last year, but the addition of Eduardo Escobar and return of Robinson Cano could see McNeil's playing time slashed. Pittsburgh Pirates: Chris Stratton, RP Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $2.2 million IP ERA FIP WHIP K/9 79.1 3.63 3.76 1.30 9.8 Stratton has been found money for the Pirates after they nabbed him from the Los Angeles Angels for cash in 2019. The right-hander owns a 3.69 ERA with 172 strikeouts across 156 innings since arriving in Pittsburgh, making him a valuable trade piece for the rebuilding Pirates.Philadelphia Phillies: Didi Gregorius, SS Ralph Freso / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $14.5 million PA 2B HR RBI fWAR 408 16 13 54 0.0 After a solid first campaign for the Phillies in 2020, Gregorius was worth zero WAR last season, according to FanGraphs. His power evaporated and his glove - minus-10 defensive runs saved - wasn't doing the Phillies any favors either. It might be time for Philadelphia to eat the majority of the veteran's $14.5-million salary and offload him to anyone with interest.San Diego Padres: Eric Hosmer, 1B Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $20 million PA 2B RBI OPS fWAR 565 28 65 .732 0.0 The Padres discussed a Hosmer deal with the Cubs last summer to rid themselves of the remainder of his contract - $59 million over the next four years - so it wouldn't be surprising if they traded him. The four-time Gold Glover is praised for his leadership qualities but only slashed .269/.337/.395 last season.San Francisco Giants: Darin Ruf, IF/OF Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $2.6 million PA HR RBI OPS fWAR 312 16 43 .904 2.5 Ruf has been incredible since returning from a three-year stint in Korea, but the Giants have an excess of outfielders on the big-league roster, which could make him expendable. Steven Duggar is also a trade option, but his ability to play center field at the cavernous Oracle Park might be enough for San Francisco to keep him over Ruf.St. Louis Cardinals: Paul DeJong, SS Mitchell Layton / Getty Images Sport / Getty2022 salary: $6 million PA HR RBI DRS fWAR 402 19 45 6 1.6 DeJong went from being an All-Star in 2019 to a bench player in St. Louis after two miserable seasons where he combined to hit .213/.295/.378 with an 86 wRC+. The 28-year-old still has value due to his above-average defense and ability to hit the long ball, so the Cardinals should be able to find a trade partner.Washington Nationals: Victor Robles, OF Adam Hunger / Getty Images Sport / GettyProjected 2022 salary: $1.7 million PA 2B RBI SB DRS 369 21 19 8 2 Robles was one of baseball's top rising stars after enjoying a solid start to his big-league career, which included a sixth-place finish for NL Rookie of the Year in 2019 when the Nationals won the World Series. He's tapered off since, but there's still promise there for teams interested in taking a chance on the 24-year-old, who's projected to fill a bench role in Washington next season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.