The Cleveland Indians are reportedly exploring the possibility of trading their star shortstop Francisco Lindor. For a small-market club like them, the infielder is about to get very expensive or command a hefty contract extension. They would prefer to deal him now and get something valuable in return. Could the New York Mets be interested? Should they?
As of now, there hasn’t been any reported interest by the Mets. The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, and the Cincinnati Reds, are allegedly exploring trade scenarios.
Today, MLB.com published an interesting article about six “not-so-crazy†potential deals for the Puerto Rican star. Among the listed hypothetical proposals are packages involving the Dodgers, Reds, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and the Mets.
Here is the package that they are “proposing:â€
Mets get: SS Francisco Lindor
Indians get: SS Amed Rosario, 1B/3B/OF J.D. Davis, 3B Brett Baty (MLB’s No. 81 prospect), LHP David Peterson (Mets’ No. 7 prospect)
Would the proposal interest the New York Mets or the Cleveland Indians?
In a world full of hilariously one-sided trade proposals, this one is actually pretty fair. The Mets would net a star-level shortstop to push them over the edge in the highly competitive National League East.
The Indians would get a starting-caliber shortstop with substantial upside in Amed Rosario, with four additional years of team control. Also, they can get a potent bat (136 wRC+) in Davis, with five controllable years.
Baty was the Mets’ first-round pick in 2019. Peterson is a 24-year-old lefty starter with the potential to be a mid-rotation workhorse.
The authors outline that the Mets are the ones who would say no. They say it would be tempting for Brodie Van Wagenen, but the package may be too much for his taste.
Another factor to consider is that giving up such a valuable set of assets would imply that Lindor signs a contract extension to remain in Queens long-term. It’s unlikely that the Mets stretch their payroll to do so, and it’s also unlikely that a franchise about to change ownership would want to make such a commitment.
Here are the other MLB.com proposals:
Dodgers get: SS Francisco Lindor
Indians get: OF Alex Verdugo, RHP Dustin May (MLB’s No. 32 prospect), C Keibert Ruiz (MLB’s No. 33 prospect), INF Jeter Downs (MLB’s No. 87 prospect)
Reds get: SS Francisco Lindor, OF Delino DeShields
Indians get: 2B/OF Nick Senzel, SS Freddy Galvis, 3B Jonathan India (MLB’s No. 93 prospect), RHP Tony Santillan (Reds’ No. 4 prospect)
Yankees get: SS Francisco Lindor
Indians get: 3B Miguel Andújar, OF Clint Frazier, RHP Deivi Garcia (MLB’s No. 62 prospect) and RHP Albert Abreu (Yankees’ No. 6 prospect)
Padres get: SS Francisco Lindor
Indians get: RHP Luis Patino (MLB’s No. 30 prospect), SS CJ Abrams (MLB’s No. 45 prospect), OF Manuel Margot, RHP Cal Quantrill
Braves get: SS Francisco Lindor, LHP Brad Hand
Indians get: 2B Ozzie Albies, RHP Kyle Wright (MLB’s No. 35 prospect), C Alex Jackson (Braves’ No. 25 prospect)
The Mets offer wouldn’t be the best of the bunch but would be very competitive. Could it happen?