Lindor doesn't fear potential Mets fire sale: 'We're built to be contenders'

The New York Mets aren't playing like it right now, but Francisco Lindor certainly believes they can still win it all.

"Usually that's what happens: we don't play well, people lose jobs," the superstar shortstop said when asked if the club was headed toward selling before the trade deadline, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "But I don't see us as a team that's going to sell out. I see us as a team that's going to contend, that's going to be there. We're built to be contenders."

The Mets dropped their third straight game Friday, losing 5-1 against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies.

"We're a much better team than we're showing right now," Lindor added, according to SNY. "Hopefully, we turn the corner at some point. We've said it enough times, we just got to do it. We have to get it done. I put myself at the top of that list."

Despite Lindor's belief that management won't pivot toward selling after ownership made huge investments this past offseason, the Mets traded Eduardo Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels prior to Friday's game. New York reportedly opted to retain a large portion of Escobar's salary in the trade for a pair of prospects.

"He's one of the best teammates I've ever had. He's an amazing player," Lindor said while mic'd up on-field during the Apple TV+ broadcast. "I just found out literally in the dugout. We're going to miss him a lot. I don't know where he went, but wherever he goes, hopefully, he gets that opportunity to help that team win."

The four-time All-Star is hitting .218/.305/.436 with 14 homers and eight stolen bases through 75 games this year for the 34-41 Mets.

After winning 101 contests last campaign, the fourth-place Mets sit 14 games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East as the midway point of the season nears. New York is also 7.5 games back of the final NL wild-card spot.