Cleveland Indians: The Perfect Francisco Lindor Trade
Earlier this offseason, it was reported that Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor was on the block. Here’s the perfect trade scenario for “Mr. Smile”.
The Winter Meetings just ended and this year there was more smoke and more rumors floating around than either of the last two Meetings. This is what happens when the hot stove is actually hot and free agents actually sign early on, it leads to more rumors and more speculation which leads to more fun.
At the center of all these rumors is Francisco Lindor, the 26-year-old superstar shortstop currently of the Cleveland Indians. But the expectation is that Lindor will be wearing a different uniform than Cleveland’s come Opening Day. Cleveland executives have always been very open about their distaste for spending big money and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that multiple executives of other teams believe Lindor will be traded.
Lindor is everything a team could want (except Cleveland apparently) he’s young, he’s controlled for another two seasons and he has already established himself as a superstar player in the league. Here’s the resumé
- All-Star each of the last four seasons
- Top-10 in MVP voting each of the last four seasons
- Two Silver Sluggers
- Two Gold Gloves
And to cap all of that off Lindor has the fifth-highest WAR in baseball since 2016, behind Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich and Anthony Rendon.
All this to say that a trade for Lindor is going to cost his new team quite a bit.
Which is why a three-team trade makes the most sense.
We know the Dodgers are interested and Lindor, of course, is currently on the Cleveland Indians so there are your first two. Who would come in as the third?
Hello, yes St. Louis Cardinals on line one.
So what is the trade you ask? Look no further.
And now we get to why this makes sense for each team.
Cleveland Indians: The Perfect Francisco Lindor Trade
Why the Dodgers do it
After making (and losing) two straight World Series in 2017 and 2018, the Dodgers got bounced in the NLDS this past year. This is a team whose championship window is clearly open right now, and they’re desperate to get over the hump and hoist that trophy.
Francisco Lindor helps them get there. Plug him into the middle of the lineup with reigning MVP Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Max Muncy that’s potentially the best lineup in all of baseball.
Add in solid middle-to-back end starter in Daniel Ponce De Leon to fill the hole left by Hyun Jin Ryu and keep a solid rotation.
The biggest issue for the Dodgers in the last three years though has been their bullpen, namely their inability to get a solid bridge to closer Kenley Jensen. That’s what Junior Fernandez and Jake Woodford are for.
First Fernandez, who reached the majors this past season. He didn’t get a lot of run due to the Cardinals being in the middle of a playoff race, but across three levels in the minors Fernandez posted a 1.52 ERA in 2019, striking out 80 batters over 65 innings. The 22-year-old has an elite fastball that reaches 99 and a changeup that has flashed high potential as well. History has taught us that to be a great reliever you only need two good pitches (see Pomeranz, Drew) which Fernandez has. The Dodgers can use him in a seventh or eighth inning role and make that gap to Jensen smaller.
That brings us to Woodford. Over 151 innings as a starter Woodford logged a 4.15 ERA and punched out 131 batters. But he could reach another level as a reliever. Woodford already has two solid pitches in his two-seamer and changeup, with a developing slider and a so-so four-seamer. But again we know that to be a great reliever you only need two pitches. The Dodgers can develop Woodford in a bridge role and potentially pair him with Fernandez make that gap to Jensen even smaller.
Cleveland Indians: The Perfect Francisco Lindor Trade
Why the Indians do it
Cleveland ownership has already shown their hand with their comments about Francisco Lindor. Everyone in baseball knows they’ll move him at some point and that the longer Cleveland waits the less the return will be for Lindor. In this scenario, Cleveland gets young controllable pieces that have MLB experience already.
This starts with Lux, the second overall prospect in all of baseball. Across two levels and 113 games in the minors last year Lux put up a .347/.421/.607 line with 26 homers.
Upon reaching LA Lux put up a more modest .240/.305/.400 but that was just a cup of coffee (23 games) and he’s still on the track to be a star. We know he’s ready to go on Opening Day and has the long term control that Cleveland wants.
Then from the Cardinals also comes Kolten Wong, who just won his first Gold Glove award while also putting up a .285/.361/.423 line. While that may look modest on the surface consider this; In the second half of 2019 Wong put up a line of .342/.409/.487 which plus his excellent defense led to MVP votes at the end of the year. With Lux and Wong, the Cleveland Indians shift Jose Ramirez to third base and have one of the best infields in baseball that allows them to stay in contention for the AL Central and AL Pennant.
Throw in utility man Lane Thomas for good measure and the Indians have three young, controllable pieces who are all ready to play on Opening Day.
Cleveland Indians: The Perfect Francisco Lindor Trade
Why the Cardinals do it
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The Cardinals won the NL Central last year and then beat the Atlanta Braves for an NLCS berth. But now they have a Marcell Ozuna-sized hole in the outfield and you don’t get back to the NLCS with Dexter Fowler and Harrison Bader starting every day. That’s where Pederson comes in, an outfielder with a big left-handed bat who just posted a .876 OPS and launched 36 homers. He fortifies the lineup and outfield which allows more time to let top prospect Dylan Carlson marinate in the minors if he needs to “work on his defense.”
Corey Seager (.272/.335/.483) is a nice piece, who the Dodgers will be able to move given the acquisition of Lindor. Acquiring him allows the Cardinals to slide incumbent Paul DeJong to third base and relegate Matt Carpenter to more of a platoon role, which he is more suited for at this point in his career anyway. Tommy Edman would become the full-time second baseman given the absence of Wong.
It’s a lot to pay for the Cardinals, giving up two of their top 15 prospects along with Wong, but Seager and Pederson have been All-Stars already and are controllable for multiple years.
That being said though it puts the Cardinals firmly in the upper echelon of NL teams and keeps them cemented as contenders.
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Of course, this is an ideal scenario where everyone gets what they want and everything is roses. Baseball is never that easy of course and the Padres are rumored to be a threat to the Dodgers plans but it’s nice to imagine. Regardless the Francisco Lindor saga is unlikely to end soon and there’s no doubt everyone in baseball will be watching.