It’s been 5 years because the Mets had a captain. Who might fill the function now?

David Wright returned to Port St. Lucie this spring because the final Mets captain.

Although he retired in 2018, the crew has not named a captain since.

However if you happen to have a look at the roster — and the contracts and personalities of the gamers at present on it — there are two potential candidates if that stance have been to alter.

Francisco Lindor has 9 years and $306.9 million left on his contract with the Mets, and simply spent the World Baseball Traditional because the captain of Staff Puerto Rico.

Often known as a clubhouse chief in Cleveland and now in Queens, the 29-year-old shortstop maybe could be a perfect candidate.

Requested throughout spring coaching at Clover Park whether or not the function would curiosity him if he have been approached by the entrance workplace or possession, Lindor mentioned, “Would I adore it? Sure. It could be a privilege to be named and be alongside different captains in crew historical past.”

Lindor, although, expressed a sentiment much like what Wright did concerning the function.

“I might one hundred pc be the identical man and teammate I’m now,’’ Lindor mentioned. “You may’t turn out to be another person. You’ve nonetheless obtained to be a great individual and attain out and hook up with folks in several methods.”

Lindor mentioned that’s one thing that has come naturally to him all through his profession.

“Thank God, I’ve at all times been capable of discuss to folks and assist others,’’ Lindor mentioned. “Each crew has management, even when there’s no captain.”

The one crew Lindor performed on with a captain earlier than this previous WBC was the final such occasion, when Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina served as captains of the Puerto Rican crew in 2017.

Whether or not it’s been throughout his time as a veteran with the Mets or as a younger participant in Cleveland, Lindor mentioned it was clear who the leaders have been, irrespective of their official standing.

“We had [Michael] Brantley, [Mike] Napoli and [Corey] Kluber,’’ Lindor mentioned of the groups he grew up taking part in on in Cleveland.

And in Queens, Lindor pointed to the dugout as the point of interest of the Mets: supervisor Buck Showalter.

“Now we have one of many biggest leaders within the recreation in Buck,’’ Lindor mentioned. “And now we have gamers which have been round and know prepare.”

Amongst them is Brandon Nimmo, who signed an eight-year, $162 million deal this previous offseason to stay with the Mets.

“He’s well-liked and performs the sport the correct manner,’’ Lindor mentioned of the Mets heart fielder. “He’s an incredible teammate.”

Nimmo got here up with the Mets in time to play alongside Wright for elements of three seasons, and he made an impression on the third baseman that has carried over till now.

When requested who on the present roster is likely to be suited to being a captain, Wright mentioned, “Brandon Nimmo involves thoughts. I believe he’s chief materials. … I’m a giant Brandon fan.”

However Wright additionally mentioned he hasn’t spent sufficient time with among the gamers — resembling Lindor — who’re newer to the group.

“I’m thrilled folks see in me what they wish to see in a captain,’’ NImmo mentioned. “In my expertise, you don’t essentially want a ‘C’ in your jersey to know you’re a frontrunner.”

The Lindor deal, two years later

It was somewhat greater than two years in the past when the Mets and Cleveland pulled off the blockbuster commerce that despatched Lindor to Queens — together with Carlos Carrasco — in change for infielders Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez plus two minor leaguers.

The Mets shortly signed Lindor to a 10-year, $341 million extension that possible will hold him in Queens the remainder of his profession.

On the time, Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti mentioned, “Hopefully this will likely be — as painful as it’s proper now — a commerce that positions us to achieve success transferring ahead.”

After Gimenez’s breakout final season, the Guardians seems to consider that to be the case: They signed the 24-year-old to a seven-year, $106.5 million extension this week.

There have been discussions about extending Rosario, as properly.

For a crew that enters the season with an estimated payroll of $77.9 million — twenty fourth within the majors, according to Spotrac — the Gimenez deal is a large funding.

By some measures, nonetheless, Gimenez was much more productive, no less than offensively, than Lindor was a 12 months in the past, ending with a better OPS and OPS+ (.837/141 for Gimenez in comparison with .788/125 for Lindor).

And their fWAR was comparable — Lindor at 6.8 and Gimenez at 6.1.

It’s 2015 yet again

The final time Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejada shared an infield, it was Sport 2 of the 2015 NLDS between the Mets and the Dodgers.

Tejada’s season — and in some methods, his productive days as a participant — resulted in that recreation, when he was taken out by a Chase Utley slide.

Murphy was within the midst of one of the vital prolific postseasons in MLB historical past. He hit seven mixed homers in 9 video games through the NLDS and NLCS.

Almost eight years later, the 2 are in line to turn out to be teammates once more, this time with the Long Island Ducks, after each signed with the unbiased league crew this offseason.

Murphy introduced his retirement in 2021, telling SNY, “It is a stunning recreation, and I actually simply really feel humbled and blessed that it let me leap on the journey for somewhat bit. It’s stunning. It might probably educate you about so many issues. And all I can say is, thanks.”

In asserting his return to the sport, Murphy mentioned in a press release launched by the Geese on Wednesday, “This recreation is a part of my soul, and my ardour for taking part in grew as nice as ever after I found sure issues that I consider will allow me to be productive on the sector once more.”

Murphy, who will flip 38 on Saturday, final performed within the majors in 2020 with the Rockies.

Tejada’s time away has been even longer. He performed 83 whole video games from 2016-19 with a handful of groups — together with a second Mets stint that lasted for 9 plate appearances — earlier than bouncing round with the Blue Jays, the Phillies and the White Sox with out showing in an MLB recreation.

Most just lately, the 33-year-old performed for Staff Panama within the World Baseball Traditional.