Cleveland Indians: 3 dream Francisco Lindor trade packages

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The Cleveland Indians will eventually have to move on from Francisco Lindor due to payroll concerns. Here are three dream returns the Tribe could receive for the star shortstop.

A day where Francisco Lindor plays baseball as a member of a team not named the Cleveland Indians is inevitable.

The four-time All-Star will be a free agent after the 2022 season and contract extension talks have completely broken down.

In 2019 Indians owner Paul Dolan admitted that Lindor would likely not stay with the club long-term, telling fans to “enjoy him” while still wearing navy and red.

Despite a slow start to the 2020 season, Lindor is surely set to cash in on a deal north of $300 million.

That deal will have to come either on the free agent market or as an extension with another team upon a trade as Dolan made it clear that won’t be coming from Cleveland. “Probably the day we [hand out a $300 million contract] is when somebody else is doing $1 billion deals.

Thus, it’s time for the Indians to move their star shortstop before it is too late. The team still has a pitching staff that can compete for a title in 2020, but with Lindor leaving inevitable, they need to add talent via trade rather than waiting to let his contract run out and losing him for no return.

The team cannot afford to wait until the 2021 trade deadline or off-season as the shortstop would likely not bring back the same return as a one-year rental.

The bright side in trading Lindor now is that despite a mediocre start to the season, he will likely bring in a package of high profile prospects and perhaps an MLB ready player to fill his spot on the roster.

Here are three dream packages the Indians could get for their star shortstop.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 28: Tommy Edman #19 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Minnesota Twins on July 28, 2020 at the Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

While the St. Louis Cardinals have Paul DeJong under contract, Lindor would be a massive upgrade for the Cards at shortstop and provide a team with a rich history with their next franchise player.

For the Indians, a deal with the Cardinals would allow them to tap into one of baseball’s top farm systems. However, one name they should ask for is on St. Louis’ current roster: Tommy Edman.

The 25-year-old was drafted by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB Draft and had a remarkable rookie season in 2019 as he slashed .304/.350/.500 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI’s in 92 games. In St Louis’ NLDS victory over the Braves, he hit .316, proving he can play on the biggest stage at a high level.

Edman has the ability to play several positions, including shortstop making him a perfect instant replacement for Lindor.

The Indians should also look to add the Cardinals’ fourth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline in catcher Ivan Herrera. Herrera is a 20-year old who St Louis’ signed out of Panama in 2016. In 2019 he slashed a combined .284/.374/.405 in a year split between Low-A and High-A ball.

While there’s excitement for Bo Naylor in the Indians system, adding a second big-name catcher in the system is important.

Finally, the Indians can add an arm to their farm system in right-hander Angel Rondon. Rondon is the 15th ranked prospect in the Cardinals’ system. He is a 22-year-old who posted a 2.93 ERA and 11-7 record in a 2019 season split between High-A and Double-A.

This deal would give the Indians an MLB ready replacement for Lindor, a future starting catcher and right-handed pitcher developed by perhaps baseball’s best organization when it comes to grooming young arms.

It’d also send Lindor to one of baseball’s most respected organizations and out of the American League.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 07: Sam Huff #28 rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run to tie the game during the seventh inning against the National League team during the All-Stars Futures Game at Progressive Field on July 07, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American and National League teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The Texas Rangers may not be a team that will win the 2020 World Series, but they have cash to spend on a superstar as they’ve previously attempted to trade for Rockies third basemen Nolan Arenado.

Cleveland and Texas were trade partners last off-season when the Indians sent longtime two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to the Lone Star state and could potentially work together on a Lindor deal.

Texas’ veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus is near the end of his career and will be a free agent following the 2022 season. The team has Todd Fraizer on a one-year deal playing third base; thus, they could plug in Lindor at third or perhaps move Andrus to the bench.

A trade package from Texas could include the Rangers second-ranked prospect in catcher Sam Huff.

Huff had a monster year in the minors in 2019 slashing .278/.335/.509 with 28 home runs and 72 RBI’s split between Low-A and High-A ball. He also took part in the 2019 All-Star Future’s Game at Cleveland’s Progressive Field and slugged a two-run home run to win game CO-MVP honors.

The team could also look to add Texas’ a potential future starting shortstop in Texas’ seventh-ranked prospect Anderson Tejeda.

The Rangers called up Tejada to the big league squad earlier this season after a stellar minor league career and so far he is batting. 286 with a home run.

Finally, the Rangers 23rd ranked prospect in 23 Heriberto Hernandez could be another name to watch. Hernandez plays the outfield, first base and catcher, making him one of the more versatile players in the Texas farm system. The 20-year old slashed .292/.464/.635 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI’s in 2018 in Rookie Ball and in 2019 slashed .345/.465/.635 in a year split between Rookie and Low-A ball.

This package could give the Indians their future starting shortstop, franchise catcher and a super-utility player that can eventually improve a Cleveland offense that has been up and down the last two seasons.

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 04: Andres Gimenez #60 of the New York Mets throws the ball to first base against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 4, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

With the New York Mets set to be sold to an ownership group expected to be more willing to spend big money, Lindor is a perfect fit to become the star player New York can build around.

For the Indians, the Mets are a franchise that has assets that would fit their future needs. If Lindor were to be sent to the Mets, acquiring Andres Gimenez would be a must for Cleveland.

The 21-year-old shortstop is the Mets’ third-ranked prospect who has gotten his first taste in the big leagues’ this season where he is slashing .268/.305/.357 with two RBI’s.

In 2019, Gimenez slashed .250/.309/.387 with nine home runs and 37 RBI’s in Double-A.

Another name to ask for would be left-handed pitcher David Peterson. The former top prospect has been outstanding in four starts for the Mets this season, posting a 2.91 ERA, 3-1 record and is holding opposing hitters to a .250 average on balls put in play.

Given the now questionable status of Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger with the organization going forward, Peterson would be the perfect arm to provide security in case the team were to make a drastic move and move on from one of the two starters.

Finally, third base prospect Mark Vientos is a name the Indians should ask for to finish the package. Vientos is the Mets eighth-ranked prospect and a former second-round pick who slashed .255/.300/.411 with 12 home runs, 27 doubles and 62 RBI’s in A-ball last season.

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This deal would give the Indians two potential Lindor replacements and an arm to join Shane Bieber as a staple in the rotation for several years to come.

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The Cleveland Indians will eventually have to move on from Francisco Lindor due to payroll concerns. Here are three dream returns the Tribe could receive for the star shortstop.

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