Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor would sign long term in Toronto

Francisco Lindor trade rumors are flying this off-season. Reportedly, Lindor would be willing to sign long term if the Cleveland Indians trade him to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Cleveland Indians are going to trade Francisco Lindor. As stupid as it is, they’re just not willing to pay their superstar shortstop and Cleveland icon to stick around.

And heading into his last season before free agency, teams interested in him will have to grapple with either signing him long term, or accepting a one and done season. So naturally, teams will avoid paying the prospect haul it’ll take to acquire Lindor without a solid sense that he’ll sign an extension before the season.

Well, according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, the Toronto Blue Jays are one of the teams Lindor would consider signing an extension with.

Toronto has built a solid young core already. With Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. under team control for the foreseeable future, adding Lindor long term would give them an explosive offense for years. If they round out the backend of the starting rotation and the bullpen, they can compete with anybody in the AL East.

There is a snag, however. The Blue Jays already have a capable shortstop in Bichette. With that kind of talent already on the roster and under affordable control through 2025, the Blue Jays may not be willing to match some of the other offers Cleveland will hear on Lindor.

But Lindor is worth whatever roster shakeup is necessary to make him a part of the club for the rest of his career. Bichette is clearly athletic enough to move to second base and possibly even become an above average defender at the position. That would push Biggio into the outfield full-time, but he’s already proven he can handle himself out there. The Blue Jays could also turn him into a Ben Zobrist type utility man, finding ways to get him at bats while playing different positions every day.

The Blue Jays aren’t the most natural fit for Lindor, but they can shuffle anything around to get him as their long term shortstop. They’ll face a tough task in outbidding other teams for him, particularly the Mets who have a clear need at the position and the resources to guarantee he signs long term. But Lindor openly expressing a willingness to sign in Toronto long term is a huge step in the right direction.