"100 percent Francisco Lindor is in on this" - MLB insider confident of star shortstop's involvement in Mets' Juan Soto recruitment efforts

There have been rumors that Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who traveled to Los Angeles on Sunday, will be part of the group that meets star free agent Juan Soto. As one of the senior members of the clubhouse, Lindor is guaranteed to be involved in some capacity to bring the outfielder to Queens.

Lindor was seen at the LAX International Airport. When the media asked, he didn't comment about his involvement in the deal to lure Soto. Later reports suggested that Lindor was in Southern California for a promotional photoshoot with Oakley, and there were no plans to be part of the New York contingent that meets Soto.

However, on Wednesday, insider Al Leiter dismissed the speculations that Lindor isn't involved on MLB Network's "Hot Stove." When host Matt Vasgersian asked him about his position on the situation, Leiter said:

"This is common that you would have your star player. A 100 percent Francisco Lindor is in on this. I am not privy to insider information, but of course you would. Every single time you come in as an ownership group, your front office, you get every one of your big players to try to help, whether communicating via telephone or flying for.

ESPN's Jeff Passan lists six competitors in Juan Soto sweepstakes

In his offseason preview for ESPN, MLB insider Jeff Passan listed several possible teams and the different scenarios in which Soto could sign for them. He acknowledged that the Mets and crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, with whom Soto hit 109 RBIs, including 41 home runs this season, are the favorites because they can break the bank.

Toronto Blue Jays, who would be the first team to meet him and his agent Scott Boras in California, are outsiders, with two new teams, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, emerging as potential suitors.

Passan also mentioned that the World Series champions, Los Angeles Dodgers, are possibly interested if the market softens and the team can afford him along with Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract.