Two trades that would start the Cleveland Indians inevitable fire sale with a bang

The Cleveland Indians trading Francisco Lindor is inevitable. As a small-market club, the Indians simply cannot afford to re-sign him to a $300 million extension that he will desire thus before he hits the free-agent market in 2021, the team must move him in similar fashion to the Red Sox and their trade of Mookie Betts last offseason.

One team that would be able to afford him and give the Indians enough of a hall to feel properly compensated is the New York Mets.

The Mets will soon become the team with the wealthiest owner in baseball with $14 billion man Steve Cohen purchasing the club. Cohen, a lifelong Mets fan, is dedicated to making the club a big-time spender and bringing in top tier talent the team has shied away from in years’ past. Thus, not only would he be willing to pull the trigger on a Lindor trade but re-sign the all-star shortstop.

The Indians can improve their farm system and current outfield problem in a trade with New York.

Brandon Nimmo is one piece Cleveland should look to acquire. Nimmo was named an all-star in 2018, still just 27-years old and holds a career on-base percentage of .387 that the Indians so badly need in their lineup.

The Indians can also look to improve the future outlook of the left side of their infield by adding third base prospect Brett Baty.

Baty is ranked as the Mets fourth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and was the club’s first-round draft choice in 2019.

Last season Baty slugged seven home runs in 51 minor league games split between three levels while driving in 33 runs. His left-handed power bat would play well in Cleveland’s “Little Green Monster” that is the 325-foot sign in right field at Progressive Field.

Finally, right-handed Dominican Republic import Robert Dominguez would be the perfect piece to finish off the deal.

Dominguez signed with the Mets out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 and has a tremendous fastball that has been clocked at 99 miles-per-hour. The 18-year old is New York’s 14th ranked prospect and with a fastball that cannot be taught, could be developed into a star in Cleveland by working on his offspeed stuff with one of baseball’s best franchises when it comes to developing pitching.

This deal gives the Indians a plug and play guy, a future starter at a position of need and a promising young arm that would all help make Lindor’s loss a little easier.

While Lindor might be Cleveland’s most talented player, Jose Ramirez might bring back the most value.

Ramirez, who will be turning 28 years-old Thursday, is already a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner and was a member of the 30/30 club in 2018.

While his production has dropped slightly the past two seasons, he is still in the prime of his career, considered among the top infielders in baseball and has two years left on a deal that will pay him just $11 million in 2021 and 2022 combined.

For a team always looking to add superstars such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez could be a perfect fit. The Cleveland infielder can play both third and second base where Los Angeles will have a need after 2021 with Justin Turner set to hit the open market.

Los Angeles is also a perfect place for Ramirez to earn a big contract extension as they always are willing to spend and could use his bat in their lineup for years to come.

With a team-friendly deal and two years of control, the Indians likely would find themselves receiving a large haul.

Ramirez may finally be the player that forces the Dodgers hand and sees them trade top prospect and infielder Gavin Lux, who, despite being MLB ready, has yet to find a permanent role on a loaded Dodgers team.

For a rebuilding team, Lux is the perfect player to build around and for an Indians team unlikely to have Lindor or Ramirez in their future, would be a perfect fit.

Another prospect Cleveland could look to add is catcher Diego Cartaya. Cartaya signed with the Dodgers out of Venezuela in 2018 and is ranked as their seventh best prospect. The backstop is just 19 years-old but slashed .281/343/.432 with four home runs in his first minor league season in 2019.

Finally, right-handed pitching prospect Gerardo Carrillo would be the perfect piece to finish off the deal. Carrillo is ranked as the Dodgers 18th prospect and has shown promising signs as both a reliever and starter and in the Indians farm system could make a major leap in his development.

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This deal would give the Indians an immediate game-changer and piece to build around and potential future major league starting options at catcher and on the mound, which would make moving Ramirez with its value nearing it’s peak more than worth it.