Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor, Tribe break off extension talks

After an offseason filled with rumors, should Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor take a hometown discount or wait to test free agency?

What’s all the fuss about? Francisco Lindor wants to stay with the Cleveland Indians.  The Indans want Francisco Lindor to stay. Unfortunately, it’s exactly these types of contract negotiations that remind you that MLB is more than a kids game, it’s a business.

Starting with the Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer trades, the Tribe began the process of trying to save money and retool their roster. They’d love for Lindor to be part of that retool, but team president Chris Antonetti was hoping that his superstar shortstop would consider taking a hometown discount (ala Christian Yelich) to remain with the only club that he’s ever played for.

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Well, Mr. Antonetti, if you’re looking for unconditional loyalty; go buy a dog.

After lengthy discussions, the two sides were too far apart. Lindor wants fair-market value, which could be north of $300M by the time he makes it to free agency. While Cleveland ownership is currently in the process of slashing their payroll.

Despite the mutual desire to get a deal done, talks have been suspended so that Lindor can focus on the 2020 season.

In his four and a half seasons in the major leagues, Lindor has made 4 All-Star teams, won 2 Gold Gloves, finished in the top 15 of the AL MVP voting 4 times, and most importantly led Cleveland to three playoff appearances (including 1 World Series). Lindor has even found a power-stroke the last 3 seasons, averaging a shade over 34 home runs.

His intangibles are off the charts, his teammates love him, and at 26 years old he hasn’t even entered the prime of his career. It’s no wonder that Lindor wants to be paid what he deserves.

The big question is what does Francisco Lindor deserve?

At $17.5M, he will be baseball’s second-highest-paid shortstop in 2020, slightly behind the 20 million that Xander Boegaerts will be making with the Red Sox (who will become a free agent in 2020). After that things become a bit murky.

This golden age of shortstops era that MLB is currently experiencing are all about to hit the market together. The 2022 UFA class will feature Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Javier Baez, and Trevor Story.

The teams who miss out on that crop will then have a chance to bid for Trea Turner’s services in 2023. We’re talking about baseball’s most decorated shortstops potentially ALL hitting the open market in a two-year span.

These early extension talks may be Lindor’s attempt to set the market for his peers, but it also could be him trying to get his money before teams can play the shortstops against each other in free agency.

Where does that leave Lindor and Cleveland right now?

If the team is unwilling to meet Lindor’s price, they may be better off trading him sooner rather than later. The Cleveland Indians are a team that has historically relied heavily on grooming prospects.

If they trade “Franky” this year, the net of prospects that the Tribe receives will be greater because Lindor will be able to provide his new team with two playoff chases, as opposed to one October run if they wait until 2021. The alternative scenario is to let him walk for free, but that has never been Cleveland’s style.

With the season about to start, both Francisco Lindor and Chris Antonetti will say that their focus is on the 2020 season. The reality is that this drama will loom over Lindor’s camp, the team, and the entire city of Cleveland until it gets resolved one way or another.