Cleveland Indians: Four blockbuster trades for Francisco Lindor

The Cleveland Indians are expected to move on from Francisco Lindor in the near future. Here are four massive deals that could become reality.

Time is ticking for the Cleveland Indians to make a decision on Francisco Lindor. It seems inevitable that the Indians and Lindor will part ways because of the massive contract Lindor will land, but what can the Indians get in return if they trade Lindor?

Lindor still has one more year of arbitration left on his deal, but after this season he can leave in free agency, leading many to believe that the Indians will trade him at some point in the next 10 months or so. His value will decrease as time goes on, so trading him before the season starts will return the most value.

We saw the Boston Red Sox deal Mookie Betts before the 2020 season to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a similar situation, receiving a rather massive haul for the former MVP. While Lindor has yet to capture an MVP, the Indians are expected to draw a package somewhat similar to what the Red Sox received.

Odds are, there will be many teams interested in Lindor who is regarded as one of the best shortstops in the league as well as a great player in the clubhouse. This could create a bidding war that could result in a massive return for the Cleveland Indians, that could actually help them more in the long run than signing Lindor long-term.

While the price tag on a trade for Lindor will be high, the Indians also know that a year from now he could leave without anything in return should they hold on to him. It’s a tough decision to make, but moving on from Lindor is the logical decision for a team that builds through the minor leagues and won’t be able to retain Lindor beyond this season. So, without further delay, here are four blockbuster deals that the Indians could strike for Lindor.