Lindor called players-only meeting: 'Got to stay above the water'

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor called a players-only meeting following his team's 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

In the loss, reliever Jorge López threw his glove into the stands and made some harsh comments that reportedly led to him being designated for assignment.

During the meeting, Mets players shared their frustrations about underperforming and the issues that have led to the team being 11 games under .500 just 55 games into the campaign, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

"Before the All-Star break and before the trade deadline, you've got to stay above the water," Lindor said.

"You can't have the water nose-deep. I'm not a good swimmer. So we've got to find ways to get the water to at least our shoulders. Because then that's when the decisions come in, and it's the ones we don't want."

Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo said it was the "right time" to have a meeting after things reached a "boiling-over point," adding that nearly the entire roster spoke. The focus of the meeting was on players - including veterans - changing habits that no longer work, sources told DiComo.

The Mets entered this season looking to rebound from a disappointing 2023 campaign where they finished 12 games under .500 despite beginning the year with the league's highest payroll.

Owner Steve Cohen brought in new president of baseball operations David Stearns to turn things around, but the executive's changes haven't paid off thus far. The slow start has led to speculation about the future of pending free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso, as well as several other veterans playing in the final year of their respective deals.