The New York Mets are shifting star outfielder Juan Soto across the outfield and shortstop Francisco Lindor is at risk of missing spring training.
The New York Mets underwent a huge overhaul of the roster and got rid of several cornerstone pieces like star first baseman Pete Alonso.
Nobody realized how seismic the roster changes would be, with one-third of the roster being replaced in hopes of righting the wrongs of the 2025 season. While Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo were fan favorites that moved on to different teams, two of the biggest fan favorites are here to stay: outfielder Juan Soto and shortstop Francisco Lindor.
While Soto just got to the Mets organization last year after signing a massive 15-year, $765 million contract, he’s been a fan favorite and attraction for every team he’s played for. Soto is an outstanding hitter, which is how he earned the contract that he did. Soto’s one glaring problem is defense.
Soto’s fielding run value of minus-13 and outs above average of minus-12 ranked in the first percentile, according to Baseball Savant. That’s a major problem when the franchise’s star player prides himself on his defense and he’s a negative defender.
In what we imagine is an effort to limit Soto’s mistakes, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns announced that the four-time All-Star will be shifting from right field to left field.
While at New York’s spring training facilities in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Stearns also announced that Lindor has an injury that could potentially derail his spring training.
Lindor will be evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone and surgery is possible, per Jorge Castillo. Stearns said that the surgery would include a six-week recovery period but he’s confident Lindor could be ready for Opening Day if he does undergo surgery.
Lindor was feeling soreness/discomfort in the area and told the Mets’ medical staff. He will visit a hand specialist on Wednesday.
This is a brutal blow to a team that already lost firepower in Alonso, and while Stearns is optimistic that Lindor could be ready to start the season, hamate bone injuries are notoriously brutal for hitters.
The injury causes significant loss of grip strength and pain when swinging. While the recovery period is typically around two months, this injury tends to linger and impacts a player’s power longer than the timetable to return.
Losing Lindor for any period of time is detrimental to the team’s success and missing spring training will affect how he plays when he returns from the injury. Lindor sets the tone for New York at the top of the lineup and provides excellent defense for a team that needed to get better in that area for 2026 and beyond.
UPDATE: Lindor underwent surgery Wednesday and will be out a minimum of six weeks.