The New York Mets' season has not gone as many expected, and Francisco Lindor's struggles have been a big part of that.
Coming into July, Lindor was slashing .212/.294/.363 with three home runs. In July, he has a .271/.358/.475 slash line with three homers in 16 games. He has doubled his home run total this month and is reminding everyone why he is one of the premier players in the game.
Lindor's turnaround comes at the same time as trade rumors, however. According to SNY's Chelsea Janes, Lindor is not on a reported list of Mets players unavailable at the trade deadline. His contract makes him tough to trade, but if he is playing well, teams may be slightly more open to taking on his salary to get him.
Six of his 16 hits this month have been extra-base hits. His OPS is up to .717, and he is slowly salvaging his season slash line. He was an All-Star last season, posting an .811 OPS and 31 homers. It will be nearly impossible for him to match his totals from last season, but at the very least, his turnaround should give Mets fans some hope for next season.
The thought when signing Juan Soto was that he and Lindor would be an elite duo to carry the Mets to the World Series. It has not worked out that way, but if Lindor can get back to playing like an MVP candidate, the Mets could be set up well for next season.
A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge have impressed this year and could be real difference-makers next season alongside Soto and Lindor.