Francisco Lindor isn’t among the Mets reported here on their “untouchable” list of Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. But Lindor’s chances to be traded still seem slim. 

It’s difficult to do in-season trades involving a star with $170 million to go, anyway. But perhaps the even bigger impediment is the Mets themselves, since they intend to compete in 2027 and can’t see how they can do that without their 30-30 shortstop. For that reason, one person in the know called all the Lindor trade speculation “silly.” 

Lindor is having a rough, injury-wracked season, but he’s practically irreplaceable.

The Mets are 29th in OPS at .683, and the crop of hitters who will be free agents is abysmal, with relatively light-hitting J.P. Crawford and Ha-Seong Kim the top shortstops.