David Stearns makes clear the problem with Mets trading Francisco Lindor

This wasn’t a guarantee that Francisco Lindor will remain a Met past the Aug.3 trade deadline, but David Stearns didn’t suggest the shortstop will be elsewhere, either.The team’s president of baseball operations met the media ahead of a 10-game homestand that kicked off Friday against the Dodgers, and in his 18-minute briefing was peppered with questions about his plans to sell off assets.One of those pieces could potentially be the 32-year-old Lindor, a five-time All-Star who has struggled during an injury-riddled season.

Don’t miss Mike Puma’s text messages from Queens and beyond — he’s giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Mets.“I’m not going to rule out or in any specific player on anything,” Stearns said.

“I don’t think that’s wise for me to do.What I will say is, we’ve got a group of young players and we’ve got some potential Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, that we view as our core.

We expect them to be our core.”It has been reported that the Mets are willing to listen on Lindor, although actually dealing him is another matter.He is in the fifth year of a 10-year, $341 million contract.

Owner Steve Cohen admitted recently during an appearance on “The Show,” The Post’s podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, that Lindor and Juan Soto didn’t get along a year ago in their first season as teammates, but that relationship has improved.Perhaps the biggest thing standing in the way of a Lindor trade is that the Mets, according to both Cohen and Stearns, are trying to win next year.This isn’t a complete teardown.

They wouldn’t be better without him, barring an incredible return.Lindor also has no-trade rights as a 10-and-5 player.Lindor recently broached the subject.“It doesn’t bother me when it’s coming from outside sources.

When it’s more inside, that would bother me.But that’s not happening,” he said.

“I try to stay away from it.I try not to read it or really talk about it.

It...