Mets Owner Cohen Decides Against Naming Lindor as Team Captain

Lindor says he respects the decision and will continue to lead the team without the official title.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 2:23am

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New York Mets owner Steve Cohen announced that the team will not have an official team captain, despite speculation that star shortstop Francisco Lindor was in line for the role. Lindor responded by saying he respects the decision and will continue to lead the team in the same way, with or without the captain title.

Why it matters

The Mets are entering a new era after trading away several star players in the offseason. Lindor is now one of the team's top remaining leaders, and Cohen's decision not to name a captain could impact the team's leadership dynamic and culture going forward.

The details

Cohen stated that the Mets will not have a designated team captain as long as he owns the team. Lindor, who joined the Mets in 2021, was expected to take on the captain role given his status as one of the team's top players and veteran leaders. However, Lindor said he respects Cohen's decision and will continue to lead the team in the same way, with or without the official title.

  • On February 20, 2026, Mets owner Steve Cohen announced the team will not have a team captain.
  • On the same day, Francisco Lindor responded to Cohen's decision.

The players

Steve Cohen

The owner of the New York Mets.

Francisco Lindor

The star shortstop of the New York Mets who was expected to become the team's next captain.

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What they’re saying

“I respect it. At the end of the day, being named captain or not, I'm still going to act the same. This is not something that's going to make me somebody different. So I respect it. I'm glad he put everything to bed so that way we can stop talking about this. And move on.”

— Francisco Lindor

What’s next

The Mets will begin the 2026 season without an officially designated team captain, allowing Lindor and other veteran leaders to guide the team through a transitional year.

The takeaway

Cohen's decision not to name a team captain reflects his desire to let the Mets' leadership emerge organically, rather than bestowing the title on one player. Lindor's response shows he is focused on leading the team on the field regardless of the official title, which could help the Mets maintain a cohesive clubhouse culture as they rebuild.