5 trade destinations for Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor

The Cleveland Indians have acknowledged the inevitability they’ll trade Francisco Lindor, and these five teams should be readying trade offers.

It’s been seen as inevitable for awhile, but the Cleveland Indians have given up the ghost. According to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale, they have informed other clubs they intend to trade four-time All Star shortstop Francisco Lindor before Opening Day.

Lindor is headed into the final year of his contract, and back in March of 2019, Indians’ owner Paul Dolan did not hesitate to say the team probably wouldn’t be able to afford him. He made $17.5 million last year (prorated of course), and he’s projected to make around $21 million in his final year of arbitration.

There are great parallels between Lindor and Mookie Betts, right down to being close in age. When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Betts, it was inevitable they’d give him a huge contract and they did. Lindor is arguably more valuable, since he plays a more premium position, and a team that acquires him would have to part with prime assets and ideally able to pony up for a big contract so he’s not a one-year rental.

Out of 30 MLB teams, even in a tough financial economy for baseball, probably 20-25 can make a case for a run at Lindor. It’s just a matter of having the assets to get the Indians’ attention, and the desire/ability to pay one of the best players in baseball. Those two things narrow the market.

Here are five teams who should be prominent on the list of suitors for Lindor.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

Could the rich get even richer? The reigning World Series champions may lose third baseman Justin Turner in free agency. They also continue to be in the enviable position of being a very good team in the present, and having a pipeline of talent in the minors to keep it rolling.

The Dodgers were a rumored suitor for Lindor a year ago, but they balked when the Indians wanted young infielder Gavin Lux. This time around, the Dodgers can shape a trade offer that does not include Lux but is good enough to get Lindor.