Indians star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is under club control through 2021, talked with reporters after the Indians were eliminated by the Yankees on Wednesday about the prospect of that being his last game with Cleveland.
“It makes sense. It is what it is,” he said. “It’s the reputation the organization has. It is what it is. I can’t control the future. I can’t control the move the organization makes.”
Lindor admitted that “it has crossed my mind, because a lot of you guys have mentioned it,” understanding that at 26 years old and right in the thick of his prime, teams are going to be interested in his services.
Lindor has been a staple in the Indians lineup since 2015, accumulating 28.9 fWAR and averaging a 118 wRC+. His offensive production took a slight step back in this shortened season, with a .258/.335/.415 line and a 100 wRC+, but with his combination of offensive and defensive prowess and his age, he’s in line for a huge paycheck in 2021. With the Indians unlikely to sign him to a long-term deal, they could very well be looking to move him this offseason.
“I could have done better,” Lindor said of his performance this year. “I could have helped the team a lot more.”
Lindor did say, though, that he believes the Indians have the sufficient funds to keep him, going as far to call the Indians a “billion dollar team.”
“I would love it,” he said of the prospect of staying with the Indians. “I would be extremely happy. I love Cleveland. I love the people here. I love the front office and coaching staff and players. They do everything right here. It’s a class act organization.”
Certainly a multitude of teams will be in the hunt for Lindor, and especially as we enter the Steve Cohen era, the Mets could be one of those teams.
The Mets have Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez‘s as options going forward at shortstop, but there is no way the Mets won’t be interested in a player as talented as Lindor. One of them going to the Indians in a deal for Lindor is certainly in the realm of possibility.
