Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor trade packages from the AL East

BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 21: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians bats during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Francisco Lindor

Orioles Get

SS, Francisco Lindor

Indians Get

SS, Gunnar Henderson

OF, Ryan McKenna

RHP, Brenan Hanifee

This one’s just for fun.

There’s a greater chance the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles win the 2021 World Series than trade for Francisco Lindor in a contract year, but it’s fun to fantasize on what a trade between Cleveland and Baltimore would look like.

The Indians would likely request shortstop Gunnar Henderson who Baltimore selected in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Henderson is Baltimore’s sixth-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline.

Henderson is still just 19-years old but has the potential to be one of the top hitting shortstops in baseball once he develops and reaches the majors making him an intriguing option to eventually fill Lindor’s position in the future.

Another name the Indians could ask for is outfielder Ryan McKenna. Cleveland undoubtedly needs outfield depth and McKenna is a prospect on the verge of reaching the majors. He is Baltimore’s 21st ranked prospect and was selected by the club in the fourth round of the 2015 Draft.

The 23-year-old is a .264 minor league hitter and slugged nine home runs in 135 games at Double-A Bowie in 2019.

Finally, Baltimore’s 27th ranked prospect Brenan Hanifee would be a great piece to complete the package. Hanifee was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft by Baltimore and posted a 2.75 ERA in 12 starts in short-season ball in 2017 and a 2.86 ERA in 23 starts in Low-A ball in 2018.

He struggled in High-A ball in 2019, posting a 4.60 ERA in 22 starts and 24 overall outings but overall has had a solid minor league career and in Cleveland would join one of the best organizations at developing young pitching.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 20: Jeter Downs #20 of the Boston Red Sox throws during an intrasquad game during a summer camp workout before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on July 20, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox Get

SS, Francisco Lindor

Indians Get

2B/SS, Jeter Downs

OF, Jarren Duran

Boston is another unlikely destination for Lindor, but this mock trade is fun to explore.

Boston has one of baseball’s worst farm systems and traded superstar Mookie Betts last season with his contract set to expire.

While there was some speculation they could make a push for Lindor given the shortstop’s relationship with Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Boston is an unlikely destination for the four-time All-Star.

If a surprise trade were to be made between the two clubs, it would likely involve middle infielder Jeter Downs.

Downs is Boston’s top-ranked prospect who they landed from the Dodgers in the Betts trade last offseason. He plays both second base and shortstop and was selected 32nd overall in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. In his minor league career, Downs is a .267 hitter and is on track to make his MLB debut next season.

With Downs a prized prospect, the Indians would likely only be able to land one more piece from Boston and that could be outfielder Jarren Duran.

Duran was selected in the eighth round of the 2018 Draft by Boston and in 2019 already reached Triple-A and is now the eighth-ranked prospect in the Red Sox system. At 24-years old, he is already nearing the majors and could immediately slide into the Indians outfield where they need help.

Overall, this is an unlikely match, but if the Indians were to land Downs for Lindor, it would be a massive victory for the organization and send their shortstop to one of baseball’s premier franchises.

Next: New York Yankees

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 06: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Clarke Schmidt #86 of the New York Yankees pitches during a simulated game at Yankee Stadium on July 06, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Yankees Get

SS, Francisco Lindor

Indians Get

RHP, Clarke Schmidt

OF, Clint Frazier

The Yankees are likely to be one of Lindor’s top suitors.

As expected, all reports signal that the New York Yankees will be among the top suitors for Lindor this offseason.

While seeing Lindor in Pinstripes could be painful for many Indians to watch, it could allow them to add two major pieces that could help them stay competitive in 2021 and beyond.

One name Cleveland should ask for is right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt who is a former first-round pick. Schmidt is the Yankees second-ranked prospect and top-ranked pitcher in their minor league system.

He made his MLB Debut in 2020, pitching in three games and posting a 7.11 ERA, but he figures to wind up a mid-rotation arm or perhaps even a late-inning reliever. Whether he ends up in the starting rotation or bullpen, Schmidt’s future is bright and the Indians would improve with him as apart of their future.

To finish a deal with the Yankees, the Indians should reunite with outfielder Clint Frazier. The Indians drafted Frazier with the fifth overall pick of the 2013 Draft but traded him to the Yankees in 2016 in exchange for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller.

In 2020, Frazier had a breakout season that kept him apart of the Yankees’ everyday lineup. He slashed .267/.394/.511 with eight home runs and 26 RBI’s in 39 games and added a home run in the Yankees ALDS series with the Rays.

With the Indians outfield woes, Frazier would slide into Cleveland’s lineup and provide them with a much-needed middle of the order bat and a defensive player that finished 2020 as a Gold Glove Award finalist.

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 24: Vidal Brujan #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park on February 24, 2020 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Rays Get

SS, Francisco Lindor

Indians Get

2B/SS, Vidal Brujan

LHP, Shane McClanahan

OF, Niko Hulsizer

Could the Rays trade some of their farm system pieces for one-year of Lindor?

The Tampa Bay Rays were two wins away from winning the World Series in 2020 and could just be one piece away from finishing the job in 2021.

While their market won’t allow them to make a long-term investment in Lindor, they could look to land him as a one-year rental given the fact they have baseball’s best farm system.

The three names for the Indians to target in a trade with Tampa Bay would be Vidal Brujan, Shane McClanahan and Niko Hulsizer.

Brujan is an infielder who is the Rays third-ranked prospect. The 22-year old is a .294 career hitter in the minors and could be major league ready as soon as next season, giving the Indians immediate insurance in the infield and at the plate.

McClanahan is Tampa’s sixth-ranked prospect and wound up a member of the Rays playoff roster despite not appearing in any career regular season games prior to the promotion. He pitched in four games for Tampa in the playoffs, including tossing a scoreless inning in Game 3 of the World Series against the World Champion Dodgers.

Finally, Hulsizer is the Rays 27th ranked prospect who, despite being drafted in the later rounds of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Dodgers, has shown signs of being a potential an everyday outfielder in the pros.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 15: Alejandro Kirk #85 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 15, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Blue Jays also expected to be one of Lindor’s top suitors this offseason.

In 2011 Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was apart of the Cleveland Indians front office that selected Francisco Lindor in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. This offseason, he’s expected to push to bring Lindor to Toronto.

The Blue Jays have one of baseball’s best farm systems that would give the Indians an opportunity to tap into in a potential trade.

The three names Cleveland should look to land in a package from Toronto are shortstop Jordan Groshans, catcher Alejandro Kirk and right-handed pitcher Eric Pardinho.

Groshans is Toronto’s third-ranked prospect and was selected by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. With the Blue Jays selection of fellow middle infielder, Austin Martin in the first round of the 2020 Draft and Lindor projected to head North of the Border in this Mock Trade, Toronto can afford to let the former first-rounder go and give Cleveland a potential replacement at short.

Kirk is the Blue Jays’ sixth-ranked prospect who made his MLB Debut for the club in 2020. In nine games, Kirk provided promising signs as he slashed .375/.400/.583 with a home run and three RBI’s.

With Roberto Perez 31 and not much catching depth behind him, Kirk would be the perfect addition to the Indians’ current and future roster.

Finally, Pardinho is Toronto’s 12th ranked prospect who was selected by the club in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft. In two minor league seasons so far, the right-hander has held opposing hitters to a .203 average as he seems on pace to reach the majors by 2022.