Cleveland Indians: What Trading for Francisco Lindor would look like

Braves

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Atlanta seems more focused on the 3B market and already have Dansby Swanson in the fold at SS but should they miss on both, they could plug-in Austin Riley at the hot corner and upgrade at SS.

• CF Christian Pache – 60 FV – $55M
• LHP Kyle Muller – 45+ – $6M
• SS Dansby Swanson

This deal would be an overpay by the Braves but this is the type of value the Cleveland Indians would want to move Lindor.  Swansby is making $3.1M in his first arbitration year and would naturally replace Lindor as the SS.  He’s yet to show more than a 2 win season but maybe its time for a change of scenery.  Pache is the get here with the Indians getting an electric prospect, already in AAA as a 21-year-old.  The Indians have been good at developing pitchers and Muller is a big lefty who with a little pixie dust could turn into a solid back-end guy or multi-inning reliever.

One team not mentioned on this list is the Rays.  This would be a move that could get them over the Yankee and Houston sized humps.  They have a hoard of prospects with upside and bulk to do a deal but given their financial limitations, they would never fully go all with a move like this.

Francisco Lindor would improve a lot of teams and shift playoff odds.  It would appear he is safe from being traded this offseason but if the Cleveland Indians scuffle again this season, expect Antonetti’s phone to ring of the hook with contenders trying to get Lindor to win a World Series title.  Who wouldn’t want this smile lifting a trophy in their jersey?