Trade rumors have swirled around Francisco Lindor all winter, as the Indians’ moves to limit their payroll over the last 15 months have led to widespread speculation that Lindor will be dealt before he reaches free agency following the 2021 season. Edwin Encarnacion’s three-year, $60MM deal from the 2016-17 offseason still stands as the largest contract in Indians franchise history, and since Lindor could certainly command four times that amount as a free agent, there has been a lot of doubt that he will remain in Cleveland over the long-term.
Speaking to reporters (including MLB.com’s Mandy Bell and the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes) at the TribeFest fan event today, Lindor said the Indians “haven’t offered me the right thing” in regards to a multi-year extension. Such a contract doesn’t seem to be a pressing concern for Lindor at the moment, as he is in “no rush” to pursue an extension since he is still two years away from the open market:
“Is there a right number for me right now? I haven’t really thought about it. I’m not there yet. I’m going to worry about what I got in front of my toes. A lot of money sounds pretty right now. Everything sounds pretty. A lot of years sound pretty, too. At the end of the day, it’s about what’s best for me, my family, and also the Indians’ organization.”
“If they don’t think I can stay here because of the money situation, then I won’t be here. But I do want to be in Cleveland. I love the Indians, I love their fans. The city has grown on me a lot. When it is the right time to sign an extension? I don’t know when it’s the right time. God has a plan for me and my family and I truly believe in it. What’s going to happen is going to happen.”
In regards to the Tribe’s “money situation,” Lindor downplayed the idea that the club wasn’t able to afford him, pointing out “there’s money out there. Our payroll was $120MM last year. That’s money.” That said, Lindor also acknowledged the team’s perspective on how payroll should be allocated: “The question is, is it the right time for each team…when are they going to spend the money?….Is it the right time for the Indians? I don’t know.”
To this end, Lindor seemingly implied that while he enjoys playing for the Indians, he isn’t pleased with being part of a club that one eye on the budget rather than a sole focus on being competitive. “Wherever I go, I want to win,” Lindor said. “I want to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland….It has nothing to do with the money. It has nothing to do with the years. It has nothing to do with who I like or who I don’t like. It has to do with championships. The front office tries to put a team together to win, not to save money. They’re supposed to try to put a team together to win. I’m here to try to win.”
The Reds, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Padres, and Mets have all reportedly had interest in trading for Lindor this winter, though Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona have both stated that their team isn’t looking to deal the shortstop. While a Lindor swap might not happen this offseason, the possibility can’t be ruled out for the trade deadline if the Indians aren’t in contention. Of course, Cleveland traded Trevor Bauer last July even while still in contention, though the Indians had the pitching depth to make a Bauer deal more palatable, whereas there isn’t any way for the team to so easily replace Lindor’s usual All-Star level of production.
I knew he was lying when he said he loves Cleveland. Nobody loves Cleveland., no matter how much Drew Carey tells you it rocks.
I hope you’re able to visit us one day. You might be pleasantly surprised 🙂
Tell that to the 25,000+ locals who stopped attending Indians games even when they’re good.
I didn’t know they still had a team.
A+ on the Major League quote
Yeah…we got uniforms and everything.
It’s really great
Is there any doubt that Major league is the best baseball movie of all time? I honestly have seen it like 60-70 times
It is up there. I don’t know about the best but I would call it my favorite and funniest and one I seen the most. One of the most quotable movies along with dumb dumber caddyshack etc.
Me too, and I’m a Yankees fan = )
Eight Men Out is really good
I would definitely agree. Bull Durham is pretty damn good too.
As a Sox fan I kind of didn’t want to like Eight men out, but yeah it was pretty good
Rose goes in the front big guy.
Respectfully disagree – Bull Durham.
Get a room
Major League is the best. The only baseball movie that’s even close is The Naked Gun*.
*MLB Network has determined it’s a baseball movie, don’t know what to tell you.
If Naked Gun is a baseball movie then so is Brewster’s Millions. Very underrated comedy.
Cleveland Pittsburgh Minneapolis etc all nice towns for common people. But LA NY has the big national media stationed there. Celebrity pow wows. Night clubs. Red carpets. Bigger the city bigger endorsements.
What’s wrong with you
Wow
Some serious Sociology gems being dropped on the MLB Rumor site. Nice
I guess this is what happens when the MLBTR moderators try to get a normal night of sleep, thanks for ruining it.
Wow
@lovin, “Common people?” What? Who on this site, us, the readers and posters, aren’t “common people?” I, for one, consider myself a common person. So, you must be an aristocrat, right?
GoTribe1948…….
I visited Cleveland once for Firebase Cleveland….1988 I believe it was. Had a great time in a great city.
I have family in Parma… Good God, and I thought Detroit was bad. Cleveland is still the mistake by the lake.
Your conception was the true mistake by the lake…
Even people in Cleveland make fun of people from Parma….
Ahh….memories of Hoolihan and Big Chuck.
I been in it sucks
Come look at both of our buildings
Cleveland’s fish have AIDS!
Reporter: What do you like about Cleveland?
Lindor: Ahhh(thinks…)…the fireworks are good here.
Can confirm Ohio is a wasteland
Strike Four always smells like farts
And your opinion matters because?
Everyone says this and it gets old.
If you’re from Cleveland, your opinion is probably just as biased as if you aren’t from Cleveland. The truth is that it gets a reputation for being a dump, but there are a lot of really appealing scenes and attractions there.
There are definitely better cities, but I’ve been to plenty of worse ones — namely Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. (I’ve lived in Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio, and I go to college in southern Ohio before so I’ve seen all three a lot.)
Hey Michael! No one cares about your opinion on what cities you’ve been to. College boy
No one cares that you don’t care about his opinion
Thanks braddy but your response is ddumb…
You must dikhead, you replied!
That sounds “pretty”. Who says that? Who says it three time?
@AllRiseForTheMoron
An ignorant statement from someone who’s never been to Cleveland.
So, tell me what’s so bad about Cleveland? You won’t be able to come up with much of any truth to claim that Cleveland is a bad city. The people who insult Cleveland are always the ones who have never been to Cleveland. Almost everyone that I’ve ever heard that has spent time in Cleveland winds up saying that they loved here once they finally visited the city.
Because that hack Johnny Carson didn’t have the talent to come up with any real jokes he had to spend the rest of his career insulting Cleveland because of a one time event (A small section of the river catching on fire) 50 years ago. As a result of that moron Carson’s jokes a bunch of ignorant people falsely believed that Cleveland was a bad city.
Also, in case you were not aware of this. The song Cleveland Rocks did NOT originate on the Drew Carey show. Cleveland Rocks was a song written and performed by Ian Hunter back in 1979 because he loved performing in Cleveland and knew that Cleveland had the best Rock fans in the country.
The song was later remade by The Presidents Of The United States Of America for the theme song of the Drew Carey show.
Also, the Huey Lewis song The Heart Of Rock & Roll was originally written by Lewis as saying “they say the heart of rock & roll is in Cleveland, and from what I’ve seen I believe em.”
Lot of words to describe a sleepy sleepy village
That’s funny, the Tribe could’ve doubled their payroll to get up to the Yankees and still sit home watching the World Series on tv.
Sitting with the yankees watching the world series.
hey melchez, what will you do when the Yankees win number 28 this year?
You will still be saying that 20 years from now.
What will you do when they don’t?
Cleveland rocks. Try visiting before you just believe the b.s.
Angel’s will get him to replace Simba, they will have plenty more money to spend once Pooholes and Upton are off, along with Simmons
The Angels don’t need Lindor, they need a pitcher.
Any truth to the rumors they also need a belly itcher?
I know there’s been scuttlebutt that they need a catcher and not a belly scratcher
Just from Jon Morosi, so not sure if that counts
The broken ladder hasn’t been working out so well.
you call yourself an angel fan? shame on you!
Yes, yes the Angels are going to sign everyone, except what they actually need….a pitcher.
While everyones piling on how the Angels never sign or trade for any elite pitchers, it should also be properly addressed how they never draft or develop any pitching on their own. Knowing all this, they still think Jo Adell is more valuable to them than Mike Clevinger is (he isn’t), so they really are just hopeless.
To be fair, they thought Vinnie Pestano was more valuable to them than Clevinger…
What are you talking about, do you even follow the team? Properly addressed? They’ve been heavily drafting pitchers, take a look at the 2018 and 2019 drafts and they signed Ohtani.
Sort of like when the Padres loved Ryan Ludwick over Corey Kluber. For all the cash short comings the Tribe’s FO has an amazing eye for pitching talent. They lose Bauer, Kluber and Salazar and still have ample pitching to compete.
The Angels will never listen!! They are just going to waist Trouts career there!! They need 2-3 solid starts to even contend
Starters**
Waste** lol
He’s wasted because? You don’t enjoy baseball and watching the greats play? Or do you just base a player on his teams success and ignore the season and the historical stats players put up during the season? With that logic I guess Rod Carew, Frank Thomas, Ernie Banks, Andre Dawson to name a few were just wasted. Angels are close to contending again they have the offense, defense, and bullpen. If their starters can stay healthy and eat innings they could be in the hunt this year.
Because he’s not cherrished by all fans when he plays only in Anaheim
Give them a World Series run where he plays like mike trout and the few remaining people will stop complaining people love trout
We all know what he’s going to do, he’ll test Free Agency, as he should. Hold your cards Reds…don’t give up your riches (prospects) for a brief moment in the sun…
Ah yes, the team that signed all these star-tier players on short term deals like Bauer, Moustakas and Castellanos, is actually rebuilding, not currently contending or having “a brief moment in the sun”. Excellent insight. Keep your prospects and miss the playoffs is actually good. Losing is great because you might have a good player in 5 years (who might also not even pan out). Give me a break…
“I love Cleveland, I will enjoy coming back to play here when I’m gone”
“Contract talks? Yes we are on the same page, they can’t afford me.”
This has been Lindor’s stance since he’s been in Cleveland.
Whenever he’s asked about an extension he talks in circles,he’s been well schooled by his agent.
I think it’s fairly obvious he’s angling to be the first 40 million dollar per year player after the 2021 season.
long term, he will have to move to second base. his range is just below league average already.
You’re “vizion” is as bad as your spelling…he’s a wizard in the field.
The guys a gold glove SS and his range is below average. I guess this guy is a scout for the Tigers.
Extension won’t happen unless both parties change their stance. Most likely Lindor and or agent wants paid as a free agent, not factoring in what if I get injured etc enough. Indians probably aren’t offering enough. Indians can afford him and have shown they can win with a 130 ish payroll. Sounds like he is hell bent on getting paid free agent money and not a slight discount safe contract which Indians probably didn’t offer that much anyways. He is great and young but 30 million a year for 8 to 12 years is never a safe contract.
That’s his prerogative which is fine. It’s a gamble on himself. At least he hasn’t shut the door on extension talks like Mookie Betts has. Team owners know these mega- contracts never work out in the backend but it’s still worth it if the team can win. Colorado and Arenado is an exception as that is one perplexing franchise.
I wouldn’t say they never work out. Bonds Clemons Arod Jeter worked out. Sure there are many others I am not going to research them. Looks like Grienke Lester Scherzer worked out and even if last year or 2 is just ok that is fine. I don’t blame either side. 300 some million is a lot to spend for small market with declining attendance. And maybe he wants to gamble on him self and make most he can. Might want a bigger city that goes for it all every single year.
I think you could make the case that Bonds, Clemens, and A-Rod worked out because they extended their productive years through PED use. Paradoxically, the success of those 3 is an argument AGAINST mega-contracts in a post-PED era
You’re correct. Also Mussina, Verlander, and Sabathia to name a few others. I should’ve been more clear. I was referring to expensive” contracts that run into players’ late 30s and early 40s age.
Going a bit off-topic, do you really think we’re out of the woods in player PED usage? Although testing is more stringent these days, the cynic in me says that testing will always be one step behind new drugs developers. That could change if they are willing to back-date test samples. But even that might not be cost- or scientifically-viable. As we’ve seen this past year, someone is always looking for that edge over the competition.
Naw. I mean, look at Nelson Cruz. That’s not drugs. He’s merely a physical marvel, unlike anyone you’ve seen since…uh…well…so what if his exit velocities and reflexes are not commensurate with a man of his age, so what? Can’t a guy be special anymore?
I was referring to those guys early contracts like bonds 1993 and it is nothing in today’s money but at the time it was huge. But a majority of the time huge contracts don’t pay off.
There will always be cheaters. Could be now. I think it will be a close kept secret. Like if a superstar finds something new he will not tell anyone else, pay his chemist a ton to have it exclusively or only share it with his closest tightest friends. Some chemist or company owner might just love a certain team and happens to meet a star and hooks him up. Or a agent only has it for his client’s. Of course lower level guys will do it as that is the only way they can make it or stick around a few more years.
I am in no way saying this is true. But Kraft could pay Brady under the table. They are friends and trust each other and if either let the secret out it would be a nightmare for both of them. So there is no way either party rats. Again not saying it is true but some undetectable substance could be out there.
That’s a hard question for me. I agree with the testing behind the drugs. But I tend to look at the NFL, they catch guys all the time. Granted fans are more concerned in the NFL when their player will be back from suspension, I’m guilty of that. I would imagine they are using PEDs in MLB, kind of obvious with guys getting caught but I would say it’s allot less now in MLB but not out of the woods. Like you said somebody is always looking for the edge.
Of course there are dozens perhaps 100 players doing PEDs in MLB. The testing regime leaves holes a mile wide that these fast acting, fast flushing drugs can march right through. Do we really believe that the half-dozen guys who get caught each year are doing PEDs because it’s high risk? No, they are doing it because it’s low risk. Those who get caught are a small fraction of the total doing PEDs. That’s why players take the risk. It’s low risk. MLB is far from solving the PED problem. And the MLBPA is part of the problem I believe. They are to some extent dictating how the testing can be done in a way that is not too intrusive and inconvenient for players, which makes it less effective. It needs to be intrusive and inconvenient. It needs to happen frequently (like a random week each month) and on short notice (like an hour). We’ll see if MLB makes any progress on this with the new CBA talks.
Ugh, I am so tired of players going on and on about their contract situations and their feelings about the moves their teams are/aren’t making. The right to free speech notwithstanding when players do this they are putting themselves before the rest of the team in my opinion.
Nolan Arenado’s comments in particular really disgust me. He doesn’t know or care what the fans think about the things he said. When you complain about your team not signing people you are implying that your current group of teammates is inadequate. Even though it’s probably true you certainly don’t say it.
And spending large sums of money doesn’t guarantee success. Ask the Giants. They largely built their WS teams dumpster- diving
Look on the flipside. If you get asked the same questions day after day by reporters, you’ll get player responses. Some are more forthright than others. It’s literally part of player’s job description because if you don’t address the media, you’ll get fined and/or disciplined. Or being labelled not being a teamplayer.
You’re spot on, plus it always benefits any professional player to be professional and acquiesce to the media. It can make a big difference on how the media portrays you, when they think you’re genuine, make yourself available, and when you show them your own personality..
Jumangi definitely votes for Bernie Sanders!
Oh, a political turd in the pool. How pretty.
2021 Dodgers Opening Day lineup:
SS Lindor
RF Betts
LF Bellinger
3B Arenado
1B Muncy
C Smith
CF Pollock
2B Lux
Seager and Verdugo (amongst others) will be traded
Pederson and Turner will be FA’s
Can see this coming from a mile away….
I don’t see this line-up happening, but there is no way that they would put Pollock in CF when they have superior defenders in Betts and Bellinger.
Clearly you cant recognize sarcasm mlb1225. I mean c’mon people! SMH
Oh sorry mlb1225. I didn’t see fartboy posted that nonsense. Nevermind sarcasm wasn’t in play, he’s just really dumb
They may sign Betts as a free agent but they are not trading for Lindor and there is no way the Dodgers pony up whatever it would take for the Rockies to trade Arenado to them, and honestly I dont really see them signing Mookie.
Big money players are not something the Dodgers seem to want. Friedman is more like to spend 30 or 40 million on a multi year deal with Jackie Bradley Jr. than he is to spend 350 to 400 million on a multi year deal with Mookie. We heard it last year with Harper, the Dodgers are willing to do dollars and not years. Mookie is going to want both.
This just in. Both the Dodgers and Padres are highly interested in signing Betts and Lindor. Talks are heating up.
Oh boy, next up is the many ridiculous Padres deals floated here for one bad contract in Myers and 3 spare parts “prospects” for an elite player in his prime…
Hey, at least we don’t have to hear about your Ellsbury trades any more. LOL
You must be confused, I’ve never made any comment about an Ellsbury trade ever..
Why would lindor take less money to stay in Cleveland Ohio ?? And why would any one want him or expect him too ? Go get 35 mil a year for as many years as possible !
Lindor had 4.7 WAR last year. Just throwing that out there. Just one of his five years has been over 5.9. People are talking about him getting $40MM AAV… Personally, I think that’s nuts.
He missed a month of the season with and played on that bad ankle for another month.
He’s also 26 years old.and his bWAR has been 4.6-5.9-5.5-7.9-4.7. and he’s won a platinum glove.
If Arenado and Rendon are making 36+ million a year at third base, what’s a hitter that’s just as good worth playing shortstop?
He’s an excellent player. But the team has numerous excellent players, that’s all.
Lindor was mediocre last year compared to his standard, as was Jose Ramirez. And yet the team still won 93 games despite mailing in the final four. This isn’t the NBA, no baseball player is worth 1/3, much less 1/4 of team payroll, not if you’re serious about building a consistently winning ballclub.
Lindor is risking injury to play this out, but it will likely be worth the wait for him. It’s also wise for Cleveland to walk away after getting his prime years.
Thank you. Finally, a refreshingly honest and on-point opinion.
In a couple years Tyler Freeman should be ready to assume the SS duties. Most folks aren’t keeping that in mind when commenting.
To be clear I am a fan of Tyler Freeman but there is doubt he remains as a SS long-term. He could well serve as a bridge guy before shifting to another spot on the field. There are a couple of other guys coming thru the lower Tribe minors that are better with the glove/ D at SS. The question is will those guys do much with the bat.
The lower levels of the Tribe farm system is stacked with impressive talent at multiple positions.. Tribe FO is working hard to thread the needle – remain relevant and competitive while developing another wave or two of top talents in its minors to ascend into roles with the MLB club..
“To this end, Lindor seemingly implied that while he enjoys playing for the Indians, he isn’t pleased with being part of a club that one eye on the budget rather than a sole focus on being competitive.”
Mark, that sounds like nothing more than your personal opinion, and a sorry attempt at getting more clicks.
Shame on you for trying to stir up the pot with this garbage. As a Tribe fan, I’m disappointed. You can do, and be, much better than this.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Brewers cutting payroll. Red Sox shamefully cutting payroll. There are plenty of big market teams that don’t spend as much of their recurring revenue as the Indians do, but it’s Cleveland that receives an inordinate amount of criticism for its approach. The Rays spend a FRACTiON of what the Tribe does and gets results…why is the Tribe constantly the object of insinuations like this one when there are other more deserving targets? So weary of the lazy journalism.
I mean, it is basically what he said, without actually saying it…
Lindor has already previously expressed some level of frustration with their management about such cost-cutting decisions. It is a well known fact..
Don’t hate the writer for stating the obvious, his on-going status as an Indian is one of the main stories around baseball. Just like Betts with the Red Sox, and Arenado with the Rockies. Blame the player if you don’t like it, don’t blame the writer for doing his job and reading between the lines..
Reading between the lines = subjective reasoning.
This MLBTR not AP News or Reuters.
Exactly. I expect those “news” organizations to be what they are — garbage.
Rangers should think about making a play and moving him or Elvis to 3rd. Someone will have ties cut in the near future, but it would solidify the defense and offense of the infield.
Whom would they offer that the Indians would need?
The Rangers have one of the very worst farm systems in baseball. There is absolutely nothing there that would come close to what is required for a Lindor deal. And I say this as someone who doesn’t regard Lindor as GodAlmighty.
But does anyone think the longer Lindor stays with Cleveland the better they get for him in return. The balancing act is when do play to win and when to cut loose of Lindor before his return dwindles too far. I know they want the moon for him but better to get something the lose him for nothing. Of course with Lindor they are playoff contenders, without him probably not so much.
They’d be interested in an Evans, Apostel, JPM, 1 more A ball starter with upside. There are three kids who fit that description.
The ultimate package could be more, but you can’t say that it’s not something that shouldn’t be discussed.
Two high A hitters that can’t hit and a minor league reliever for Lindor. Your very funny Rett.
@Robb5215
Robb, Robb, Robb….they don’t need to trade Lindor. That’s a false assumption. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting two monster years of Lindor (who will have one eye on his free agency)–perhaps the best two years he’ll ever have in his career–on a team that will be contending. So tell me again why the Tribe MUST trade him? Answer: they don’t.. Play him out, have fun years, collect the draft pick compensation. Who cares if his value “dwindles”? If teams don’t want to pay MORE in future value what he is worth today, why do we trade him? We KNOW what Lindor gives you; everything else is pure projection/speculation, and the Cleveland Indians are in the business of winning NOW, as well as building a sound future. It looks like to me that they are doing that.
Only poorly-informed observers fall for the idea that the Indians are desperate to deal Lindor or worry about his value declining.. You don’t ever “lose him for nothing.” You HAVE him. Good grief, you HAVE him.for two more years. Why even bother to draft and develop a guy like Lindor if you are not even going to get his best years?
The Cards should throw Gorman, Sosa, O’Neil, and Reyes at Cleveland see if they would bite then move DeJong to 3rd and it would be the best infield in baseball.
dmarcus, that deal would not come close to get Lindor. Cleveland’s top prospect is a 3B so Gorman is not a fit. Sosa is likely a utility infielder. Reyes has started 6 games in 4 seasons, That will not get you a stud shortstop.
“It has nothing to do with the money.”… Ooooook, Frankie.
How unusually reasonable-sounding
In lamens terms: “I’m going to the Yankees in a couple of years”
Why of course, every potential free agent in the past two decades has been rumored of landing in NY.
🙁
“The city has grown in me”. LMAO. So does toe fungus.