Lindor wants Mets to re-sign Conforto: 'One of the best teammates I've had'

Francisco Lindor wants Michael Conforto to return to the New York Mets next season.

The shortstop praised Conforto after the outfielder potentially played his last home game with the Mets on Thursday in a 12-3 win over the Miami Marlins.

"Conforto, he's one of the best teammates I've had in my career," Lindor said Thursday, according to SNY's Danny Abriano. "I've had a lot of good ones, but the things that he's gone through this year, especially being a free agent and the way he has managed himself day in and day out, he's a true professional. And to see him today get a couple knocks with two outs, it's huge."

The Mets were reportedly involved in contract extension talks with Conforto during the preseason, but that was before he posted the worst numbers of his seven-year career. Entering Friday, the 28-year-old is hitting .228/.342/.376 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs across 123 games.

However, Conforto has hit well over his last seven contests, slashing .304/.385/.522. Combine those numbers with his track record of success, and Lindor and the rest of the Mets want the former All-Star to return.

"Hopefully, he can continue this for the next three games, and he can rack up some good numbers and end on a positive note," Lindor said. "We all want him back, and we all want him to be the best he can be on a daily basis."

Conforto is reportedly expected to turn down a qualifying offer from New York this offseason to seek a larger payday in free agency, sources told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.