Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets have found his forever home. The Mets and Lindor have agreed to a 10-year, $341 million-dollar contract, the third-largest contract in MLB history and the largest ever contract for a shortstop, which begins in 2022. This year for the 2021 season, Lindor will be earning $22.3 million.

Lindor, 27, was traded to the New York Mets alongside Carlos Carrasco by the Cleveland Indians on January 7th, 2021, in exchange for Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez, and prospects Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene.

Lindor was set to become a free agent following the 2021 season if he and the Mets did not agree before his deadline date of opening day. In the eleventh hour at 11:16 pm just before midnight, Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo broke the news regarding the signing for the franchise player.

Mets owner Steve Cohen had dinner with Lindor in Palm Beach before the Mets headed for their opening game against the Washington Nationals to discuss his contract. Mets original offer to Lindor was for 10 years, $325 million. Lindor had a counteroffer with an asking price of $385 million for 12 years but ultimately came into an agreement for 10 years, $341 million. The contract includes no opt-outs and a limited no-trade clause for the next five years. After 2026 he will have a full no-trade protection since he will have been in the league for ten years.

Lindor brings a leadership presence to the Mets clubhouse. Mets manager Luis Rojas said during Spring Training, “The abilities, you expect what we’ve seen. But now his leadership skills, it’s been more than I expected because he’s done it so early. His outgoingness, that’s the thing that’s really impressed me the most. He’s done it in the best way you can imagine.” Rojas continues to say that Lindor has been displaying “natural leadership at a very young age.”

Over Lindor’s six years with the Cleveland Indians, he has a career batting average of .285, 411 RBI’s, 896 hits, 138 home runs, and is four-time All-Star. Lindor will continue to upgrade his stats over the next ten years and look to end the New York Mets thirty-four World Series drought.