MLB Rumors: Francisco Lindor could be on his way to New York

The Cleveland Indians put together an impressive run during the shortened MLB season but aren’t believed to be in a position to contend for the long term, as the team is reportedly looking to cut expenses, especially amid the context of the pandemic.

Obviously, that means that Francisco Lindor is the most likely trade candidate for The Tribe, as the soon-to-be 27-year old will enter the final year of his deal and is due for a big payday once he enters free agency.

And even after posting an underwhelming slash line of .258/.335/.415 during the season, Lindor is still expected to gauge a lot of interest in the trade market ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Cleveland Indians Intend To Trade Francisco Lindor ASAP

That’s why the Cleveland Indians have reportedly already made Lindor available in trade talks and have informed the rest of the league, according to a report by Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

“Cleveland, strapped for money, intend to trade All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor by opening day, several rival teams have been informed. Lindor earned $17.5 million last season and is projected to earn about $21 million in salary arbitration in his final year before free agency,” Nightengale tweeted.

Yankees Or Mets Could Trade For Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor has often been tied with a move to The Big Apple. The New York Yankees have reportedly been keeping tabs on him for a very long time, and even though they’ve already handed DJ LeMahieu a qualifyingoffer, the batting champion is expected to demand more money.

So, should the Yankees let LeMahieu walk, they could shift Gleyber Torres back to second base and make a run at Francisco Lindor as their new shortstop for the future. Then again, they won’t be alone in their pursuit.

The New York Mets are already stacked in that position withAmed Rosario, Andres Gimenez, and Ronny Mauricio but Steve Cohen has made it pretty clear that he intends to compete at the highest level right away, and making a move at a young All-Star would certainly make a statement.

The Mets are going to be quite aggressive in their pursuit of top-tier talent to kickstart the Cohen era at Queens, so they’re going to be tied with every single big name in the market until the start of the season.