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Cleveland Indians: The Perfect Francisco Lindor Trade

By Jake Hasan

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after plating the tying run on an error by New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) (not pictured) during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on June 9, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after plating the tying run on an error by New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) (not pictured) during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on June 9, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

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.

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