Indians: A notable deadline arrives Monday night

The Cleveland Indians have a few contract decisions to make by Monday night. All seem like obvious choices at this point.

After all the talk about Francisco Lindor‘s contract situation, the Cleveland Indians will make the first move by Monday night.

That marks the deadline to tender deals to arbitration-eligible players. Lindor is going to be tendered a big deal that should be near the $17 million range. Not a bad amount of money to make in one year.

Tyler Naquin, Mike Clevinger, Kevin Plawecki, and Nick Wittgren are all set to be tendered deals as well. It would be a shock if one did not receive a deal as the Indians already cut loose guys they didn’t want like Danny Salazar and Nick Goody earlier this offseason.

Lindor is obviously going to be tendered a deal. The question is whether the team will offer up a long-term deal later this offseason. Unless we are all being fooled by the front office, I’m guessing there have been several offers presented to Lindor.

Some fans will hope for a hometown discount while others will call out ownership for not spending enough. Both sides are fair but don’t be fooled into thinking Lindor is going to take a discount or that ownership is going to hand out a record contract.

For now the decision will be delayed with another one-year deal for Lindor. If we reach this point a year from now and Lindor is still on the team, the stress levels will only increase. Offering him another one-year deal next year means he is all but gone by the trade deadline, if he makes it that long.

The Indians are not a team that often has arbitration drama. Except when Trevor Bauer was involved. The focus this year is on what the team will do with Lindor after he is offered his deal.