Former Mets manager breaks Blue Jays fans' hearts with information about a previous miss

After missing the postseason for the first time in three years, it was painful for the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans to watch their failed free agent signing Shohei Ohtani join the Dodgers in the MLB playoffs in 2024. Considering what he's done single-handedly for the Dodgers this season, Ohtani would have been a big difference for the Jays this year had they landed the dual sensation last offseason.

We now learn that Ohtani wasn't the only big-name free agent the Jays missed out on in recent years.

Former New York Mets (interim) GM Zack Scott recently revealed that star shortstop Francisco Lindor almost moved to the Jays more than three years ago, likely signing a long-term contract extension with Toronto in the process.

That was before Scott and the Mets acquired the four-time All-Star in a blockbuster trade in January 2021. The Mets believed Lindor wouldn't have lasted until free agency the following offseason, so they had to make the move to get him. They would then immediately follow suit and extend it for ten years a few months later, firmly securing his services for the next decade.

Blue Jays narrowly missed out on Francisco Lindor

The Jays can safely call this another one of what could have been. Especially considering Linder played a key role for the Mets this season and made significant contributions to their spirited playoff run.

Although Lindor struggled to adjust to his new National League environment in his first season with his new club in 2021, he has gradually returned to his dominant form over the past three seasons with the Mets. From 2022 to 2024, he scored 313 runs and also registered 97 doubles, 90 home runs, 296 RBI and 76 stolen bases while batting nearly .266. More importantly, Lindor was relatively durable, playing in more than 152 games in each of the last three seasons. He is also a two-time Gold Glove winner, showing that he can perform at his best on both sides of the field every day.

Had the Jays managed to get Lindor, their offensive woes likely wouldn't have been as pronounced in recent years. Additionally, he has shown great success by taking the leadoff spot again with the Mets in 2024, a spot he was very comfortable with during his time with the Cleveland Guardians. As a result, the Jays would have had their perfect replacement for George Springer right there. In addition to the uncertainty of Bo Bichette and the aftermath of his forgettable 2024 season, Lindor would have provided stability and continuity in the infield regardless of what ends up happening.

As Lindor continues to hog the spotlight for the Mets, all the Jays and their fans can do now is sit back and watch in awe. It should also serve as an important reminder that they need to be proactive in several ways this coming offseason if they want to become a meaningful organization again.