EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Star shortstop Francisco Lindor will be evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone on Wednesday and could need surgery, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday.Hamate surgery would require a six-week recovery, but Stearns emphasized he's "optimistic" that Lindor would be ready for Opening Day on March 26 if he undergoes the procedure.Stearns said Lindor has dealt with soreness in the hamate bone area "on and off for a couple of years" and played through it. The discomfort resurfaced in recent days when Lindor reported to camp and began workouts with the club."I think it just persisted to the point where he felt like he should say something about it," Stearns said. "And once we examined it yesterday, our medical staff determined that he should go see a specialist."Stearns also delivered news about the Mets' other franchise cornerstone on Tuesday, announcing that Juan Soto will move from right field to left field this season.Soto, 27, made 160 starts in his first year with the Mets last season -- 157 in right field and three as their designated hitter -- while hitting .263 with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs. But he has extensive experience in left field, starting in 458 games there over his first eight seasons, and he's slated to play left field for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.Stearns said options to play right field include veteran Tyrone Taylor, Carson Benge, the organization's top position player prospect, and MJ Melendez, who recently agreed to sign with the team."I think it's just where he is comfortable," Stearns said of Soto's move. "He's done it in the past. He feels good over there. We've talked about it a lot. We've got a lot of athletic outfielders -- both at the major league level, near the major league level -- and so having right field available to them isn't a bad outcome."New York's shortstop cupboard is less full. The Mets dealt Luisangel Acuna, their primary backup last season, to the Chicago White Sox as part of a trade for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. last month. Stearns named Vidal Brujan, Ronny Mauricio, Christian Arroyo and Jackson Cluff as options to play shortstop in spring training games if Lindor undergoes surgery.Arroyo and Cluff are nonroster invites to spring training. Mauricio has started two games at shortstop in his two-year big league career. Arroyo has started 19 games at shortstop in his seven-year major league career.One other possibility is Bo Bichette, who signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets this offseason with the intention of transitioning from shortstop to third base."If we get to the point where we get closer to Opening Day and there are questions about Francisco, then we'll cross that bridge when we get there," Stearns said. "But, at this point, we're optimistic that regardless of what Francisco needs, he's going to be ready for Opening Day."Lindor, who has six years and $194.9 million remaining on his contract, is coming off a season in which he hit .267 with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases -- one of seven MLB players to post a 30-30 season in 2025. He also drove in 86 runs.Stearns said Lindor's hamate injury was not a factor in him not getting insured to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.Lindor, 32, underwent a right elbow debridement in late October, but he was expected to be a full participant in spring training from the start until the hamate injury resurfaced. As a result, the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation and Lindor, who had been named Puerto Rico's captain, were surprised to learn he was denied coverage for the WBC late last month."We had nothing to do with that," Stearns said. "I actually don't know why he wasn't given the clearance, he wasn't approved for insurance. Clubs have no part in that. That's all done through the MLBPA and Major League Baseball."For Soto, his move to left field comes amid him practicing at the position to get ready to play there for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.The Mets are scheduled to open the season on March 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
