Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo talk possibly becoming next Mets captain

It sounds like both star shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Brandon Nimmo would welcome becoming the next captain of the New York Mets if they were offered the role. 

"Would I love it? Yes. It would be a privilege to be named and be alongside other captains in team history," Lindor explained, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. 

Lindor joined the Mets via a trade with the now-Cleveland Guardians in January 2021 and later signed a 10-year contract extension that could be worth up to $341M. Nimmo, meanwhile, agreed to an eight-year deal reportedly worth $162M with the Mets this past December. 

"I would 100% be the same guy and teammate I am now," Lindor insisted about possibly becoming Mets captain. "You can’t become someone else. You’ve still got to be a good person and reach out and connect to people in different ways." 

Lindor also noted how every team, including the Mets, has outspoken "leadership" even if there's no official captain on the squad. The four-time All-Star selection hinted that Nimmo is one of those leaders in the New York clubhouse. 

"He’s well-liked and plays the game the right way," Lindor said of Nimmo. "He’s a great teammate." 

The Mets haven't had a captain since David Wright retired after the 2018 season. Interestingly, Wright specifically identified Nimmo as his possible successor in the role, in part because the beloved third baseman views Nimmo as "leader material." 

Nimmo told Mike Puma of the New York Post last summer that "it would be really special" to earn the captaincy after he signed a long-term contract. That obviously hasn't happened yet, but the 30-year-old seemingly would welcome the responsibility. 

"I’m thrilled people see in me what they would like to see in a captain," Nimmo more recently said. "In my experience, you don’t necessarily need a 'C' on your jersey to know you’re a leader." 

Some fans likely would choose slugger Pete Alonso as the next Mets captain if they could vote, but Alonso remains eligible for free agency after the 2024 season. It's possible team owner Steve Cohen and the rest of the front office are waiting to address Alonso's future before picking the man who ideally will follow in Wright's footsteps in multiple positive ways for at least the rest of the 2020s.