Mets' Francisco Lindor respects Cohen's anti-captain stance

Longest-tenured Mets player says he understands team owner's decision to not have a team captain

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Francisco Lindor, the longest-tenured New York Mets player, says he respects team owner Steve Cohen's declaration that there will never be a team captain under his ownership. Lindor, a five-time All-Star shortstop, says he understands the decision and is focused on playing baseball and winning games.

Why it matters

The Mets have had only four team captains in their history, and the decision to not have a designated captain is seen as an unconventional move by the team's new ownership. This could impact team dynamics and leadership as the Mets look to build on their recent success.

The details

Lindor, who is rehabbing from hand surgery, told MLB.com that he respects Cohen's decision and that he feels the Mets have strong leaders in the clubhouse even without a designated captain. The Mets have undergone significant roster changes this offseason, allowing several key players to depart as free agents.

  • Lindor's comments came during spring training in February 2026.

The players

Francisco Lindor

The longest-tenured New York Mets player, a five-time All-Star shortstop who is rehabbing from hand surgery.

Steve Cohen

The owner of the New York Mets who has declared there will never be a team captain under his ownership.

Pete Alonso

A popular slugger who left the Mets as a free agent.

Edwin Diaz

A star closer who left the Mets as a free agent.

Brandon Nimmo

An outfielder who was traded by the Mets.

Jeff McNeil

A versatile veteran who was traded by the Mets.

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What they’re saying

“I respect it. This is definitely a Steve, front-office type decision. At the end of the day, being named captain or not, I'm still going to act the same.”

— Francisco Lindor (MLB.com)

“Just my own views on how I want a locker room to be. My view is every year the team's different and let the team kind of figure it out in the locker room rather than having a designation. Having a captain in baseball doesn't happen often. It's actually unusual.”

— Steve Cohen, Mets Owner (MLB.com)

“It's not where they want to go. I respect it, I understand it and I'm on board. It's just one of those where it's like, I'm going to focus on baseball. I feel like we've got leaders [without] captains and all that stuff. The clubhouse is the clubhouse. Let's just play baseball, and let's focus on winning.”

— Francisco Lindor (MLB.com)

What’s next

Lindor is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season as he continues to rehab from his hand surgery.

The takeaway

Cohen's decision to not have a team captain is an unconventional move, but Lindor and the Mets seem to be embracing it as they focus on building a winning culture and roster through player development and free agency.