Cleveland Indians: Three possible destinations for Francisco Lindor

Where will the Cleveland Indians eventually trade Francisco Lindor to? Here are three possible options.

In a move that the baseball world has anticipated for a long while now, the Cleveland Indians have formally told other teams around Major League Baseball that star shortstop Francisco Lindor is available for trade over the coming months.

The 27-year-old shortstop is projected to make close to $20 million next season through arbitration, his final season before hitting one of the most highly anticipated free agent markets in recent memory next year.

Indians’ leadership has made it pretty clear for years now that the possibility of extending Francisco Lindor was very low, and the immediate slashing of payroll after the conclusion of the World Series was the signal to Indians fans that more drastic cuts were on the way.

What’s worse, from the perspective of the Indians, is that the organization isn’t exactly selling high on the four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. With only one year of control left and a high price tag for that one year of service that will surely make a few potential suitors think twice, the Indians handling of Lindor has been a bit of a nightmare.

But for one lucky team with the financial capabilities of signing Lindor to a long-term deal and the prospect depth to deal for him, someone will acquire not only one of the top shortstops in baseball, but one of the top overall players in the game.

Here are three organizations that make the most sense as likely trade partners with Cleveland for Francisco Lindor.