Dodgers
The Dodgers already made their interest in Indians’ ace Mike Clevinger known. They have the bullets to acquire both players in one trade but that is against the Dodgers MO of collecting young talent as opposed to shedding them. Even then, the Dodgers could make a compelling offer for Francisco Lindor with:
- INF Gavin Lux – 60 FV – $55M
- RHP Tony Gonsolin – 45+ FV – $6M
The Indians might prefer Dustin May as the centerpiece and that would shift the secondary pieces going back but this deal gives the Indians two MLB ready pieces. The Indians would probably still want more for their star in the event Lux doesn’t hit his lofty future value. Corey Seager would be displaced at SS but that doesn’t mean LA would just give him away. Just for fun let’s make it a mega-deal where they acquire Francisco Lindor and Clevinger ($148M surplus value) that would cement the Dodgers as favorites:
- INF Gavin Lux – 60 FV – $55M
- RHP Dustin May – 60 FV – $64M
- 2B Jeter Downs – 50 FV – $28M
That would be a monstrous trade that usually gets reserved for fantasy leagues and MLB The Show. The Dodgers would be pushing in some of their prospect capital to win a world series over the next two seasons and the Indians would get their young MLB ready replacements oozing with upside and another prospect who is probably a year away when the Indians would target their next competitive cycle. The odds of this happening are low since the Cleveland Indians could diversify their return by dealing them separate.