New York Mets infielder Francisco Lindor throws during spring training baseball practice Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
WASHINGTON – After a drawn-out, suspenseful final 72 hours, Francisco Lindor and the Mets agreed to a deal that will keep the superstar shortstop in Queens long term.
Lindor accepted a 10-year deal worth $341 million late Wednesday night, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The contract begins in 2022, per a source, which means Lindor will be 38 years old by the time it ends. The deal does include deferrals, but no opt-outs.
Both sides reached an agreement with less than an hour to go before Lindor’s self-imposed Opening Day deadline. About 45 minutes before midnight, when the schedule would officially – finally – turn to the day of the Mets’ first game in the Steve Cohen era, Lindor came down from his original reported 12-year, $385 million asking price.
After Cohen went to dinner with Lindor in Port St. Lucie on Sunday night (bad ravioli, said Cohen, and Lindor got the chicken parm), he and the Mets offered what they thought was a fair 10-year deal worth $325 million, according to a source. Since Monday morning, when that offer became public, a source described it as the Mets’ “best and final.” The club was unwilling to meet Lindor’s request for $60 million more, over 12 years, until Wednesday night. The jump to 10-years, $341 became the magic number
Now, the Mets can head into Opening Day with their fan base happy and one of the best shortstops in the game signed to a long-term deal.
Photos: Spring training is MLB's most charmed season
Photos: Spring training is MLB's most charmed season
Six-month-old New York Yankees fan Britt Hamlin is held by his mother Casey Hamlin, from Long Beach Island, NJ., during a spring training exhibition baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees in Tampa, Fla., Monday, March 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A ballpark employee tries to tell a goose to leave center field between the second and third innings of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The goose, who stayed in the outfield for most of the game, was joined by a second goose in the fifth inning. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Zac Vredeveld wears a hot dog shaped hat during a spring training baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, March 19, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Fans wearing protective face masks go for a ball thrown from the outfield during a spring training baseball game between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets, Sunday, March 21, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Fans watch from boxes painted on the grass to promote social distancing during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A young fan holds a sign as players warm up before a spring training baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Scottdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A fan wears a protective mask as he arrives at George M. Steinbrenner Field for a spring baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Fans wearing suits with shamrocks on them for St. Patrick's Day sit on the lawn before a spring training baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
An Atlanta Braves catcher waits to workout during spring training baseball practice on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in North Port, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Philadelphia Phillies fan Roberta Windish of Gilbertsville, Pa., wears a Phanatic hat while attending a spring training exhibition baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Detroit Tigers in Clearwater, Fla., Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Eight-year-old Tanner Ryan, of Nashville, Tenn., reacts as sunscreen is applied to his face before a spring training baseball game between Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Port St. Lucie, Fla.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Neal Williamsen, 42, of Chicago, shows his tattoo during a spring baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Philadelphia Phillies fan Tony Penecale of Philadelphia, arrives at BayCare Park for a spring training exhibition baseball game between the Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays in Clearwater, Fla., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Children run to retrieve a home run ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Payton Henry during the ninth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, March 5, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Autographed bats and jerseys are on display in a silent auction before a spring training baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Santiago Ochoa throws a baseball on the lawn during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies Monday, March 15, 2021, in Scottdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A vendor pauses for photos during a spring baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A young Cincinnati Reds fan takes a break from watching her team during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, March 29, 2021, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
