Francisco Lindor linked with 'clubhouse culture' criticisms of 2021 Mets

Anthony DiComo of the MLB website shared an interesting piece of information while detailing in his Tuesday newsletter how New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has grown since his first season with the organization. 

"Lindor is developing into the type of leader the Mets have long hoped he could be," DiComo wrote. "He wasn’t that sort of presence back in 2021 when the Mets drew criticism for their clubhouse culture. But Lindor has since realized what leadership at the highest level entails."

The franchise now known as the Cleveland Guardians traded Lindor to the Mets after the 2020 season, and he signed a 10-year contract extension that could be worth up to $341M ahead of the 2021 campaign. That spring, Lindor and New York utility man Jeff McNeil got into an altercation that reportedly included Lindor grabbing McNeil "by the throat" and pinning his teammate "against a wall in the tunnel" at Citi Field. 

The 2021 Mets finished with a record of 77-85.

More recently, it took Lindor over a year to make good on a promise that he'd buy McNeil a vehicle if the 31-year-old claimed the National League batting title for the 2022 season. For what it's worth, multiple knowledgeable individuals have suggested the Mets were negatively impacted by supposed clubhouse issues throughout 2023 as they failed to meet expectations before a summer fire sale ended their playoff hopes. 

"This winter, he invited (third basemen) Brett Baty and Mark Vientos to his Orlando home to work on their defense," DiComo added about Lindor. "He attended a minicamp at the minor league complex with prospect Luisangel Acuna and others. He has gone out of his way to make teammates feel welcome. On a roster that also includes other Type A veterans in (outfielder) Brandon Nimmo and (first baseman) Pete Alonso, Lindor has stood out for his willingness to take on additional responsibility."

While Alonso could leave the Mets as a free agent this coming fall, Lindor and Nimmo were previously mentioned as candidates to become the club's next captain. Whatever did and/or didn't happen in the past, Lindor seems to be embracing his role as a leader after the 2023 Mets went 75-87.