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Francisco Lindor

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Steve_424

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We have a couple different threads and will have gameday threads coming, so I figured this would be a good place to discuss the Indians' young superstar in one place.

To start (or continue) conversation, thoughts on Yelich's contract and it's potential impact on Lindor negotiations?
 
We have a couple different threads and will have gameday threads coming, so I figured this would be a good place to discuss the Indians' young superstar in one place.

To start (or continue) conversation, thoughts on Yelich's contract and it's potential impact on Lindor negotiations?
Just want to say I’m glad you started this. Browns and Cavs have individual player topics, why not the tribe? Series threads won’t get bogged down now and I think we’re starting to get enough posters to fill out these threads.

For that Yelich contract, not sure it does much to be honest. I didn’t realize until I read on here he’s not a free agent until 31. So he’ll be much older entering the open market. Lindor always seemed like he wanted to hit free agency and get as much as possible as well. Hoping we hang on to him, but I doubt it.
 
I don't think it has much of an impact on Lindor at all. Had both players played out their current contracts, Lindor would've hit free agency a year before Yelich and he will be 3 years younger than Yelich. With an extra year in play and that extra year being his age 30 season, there is more risk for Yelich than there is to Lindor

Furthermore, Yelich's contract was essentially a 7 yr $190m extension. I think everyone here would do backflips if Lindor agreed to that kind of extension. But do we think the Indians are capable of offering an extension like that? I really want to hope so, but I am also not so sure.
 
I don't think it has much of an impact on Lindor at all. Had both players played out their current contracts, Lindor would've hit free agency a year before Yelich and he will be 3 years younger than Yelich. With an extra year in play and that extra year being his age 30 season, there is more risk for Yelich than there is to Lindor

Furthermore, Yelich's contract was essentially a 7 yr $190m extension. I think everyone here would do backflips if Lindor agreed to that kind of extension. But do we think the Indians are capable of offering an extension like that? I really want to hope so, but I am also not so sure.

I am actually thinking the Indians may try to offer essentially a 10/250 area contract if they get another minority owner/increase in the TV revenue when they have a chance to get it renewed.

Problem is it's hard to see Lindor getting less than a 10/300 on the open market.

Yelich is older so it pretty much states that Lindor is looking at 30 mil a season with the current market since Yelich got 27 on average.
 
I think the interesting thing to look out for is the plethora of great SS hitting the market in the next 2 offseasons.

SS.PNG

Highlighted 6 of the Top 15 2019 SS sorted by WAR with min 300 PA. If we want to comb through it more, it's realistically 6 of the best 9 or so short stops in baseball. With the exception of Semien, who hits the market after the 2020 season, the highlighted players all hit free agency after the 2021 season. Villar is a free agent too, but I do not think he really belongs in the same discussion of these players for various reasons.

With the exception of Baez, who I expect to stay with the Cubs, I don't think it's unrealistic to think all of these players could leave their teams.

Semien having a similar 2020 season likely prices him out of Oakland.

Can the Rockies afford Story after their Arenado and Blackmon extensions? Unlikely imo

Can the Indians afford to keep Lindor? Again, unlikely imo

Can the Dodgers afford to or choose to keep Seager should they give Mookie his mega deal?

If the Astros extend Springer, will they be able to pay Correa too? Will Correa be more open to a team friendly deal with his injury issues?

What impact will other star, non-SS position players (Betts, Springer, Realmuto, Bryant) getting big contracts in 2021 and 2022 have on the above players?
 
I think the interesting thing to look out for is the plethora of great SS hitting the market in the next 2 offseasons.

View attachment 2935

Highlighted 6 of the Top 15 2019 SS sorted by WAR with min 300 PA. If we want to comb through it more, it's realistically 6 of the best 9 or so short stops in baseball. With the exception of Semien, who hits the market after the 2020 season, the highlighted players all hit free agency after the 2021 season. Villar is a free agent too, but I do not think he really belongs in the same discussion of these players for various reasons.

With the exception of Baez, who I expect to stay with the Cubs, I don't think it's unrealistic to think all of these players could leave their teams.

Semien having a similar 2020 season likely prices him out of Oakland.

Can the Rockies afford Story after their Arenado and Blackmon extensions? Unlikely imo

Can the Indians afford to keep Lindor? Again, unlikely imo

Can the Dodgers afford to or choose to keep Seager should they give Mookie his mega deal?

If the Astros extend Springer, will they be able to pay Correa too? Will Correa be more open to a team friendly deal with his injury issues?

What impact will other star, non-SS position players (Betts, Springer, Realmuto, Bryant) getting big contracts in 2021 and 2022 have on the above players?

I've often wondered if the Indians may let Lindor walk but go after one of these guys instead.
 
I've often wondered if the Indians may let Lindor walk but go after one of these guys instead.

I honestly agree with @Huber Honestly the tribe has a ton of prospects who are middle infielders within the system and if Lindor walks, we may trade another veteran or two (Jose, Clev) to bring in more young talent, but for the most part Lindor will be replaced from in house. We may sign a stop gap, but outside of that, the Indians going forward will barely spend in free agency, just mostly one-two years deals unless we absolutely need a EE again in free agency in a sense.
 
I posted this on Twitter, but with the wave of young talent incoming that will be relatively inexpensive at first, why not go all-in and sign him? Your 2022 Indians lineup could look like this:

C-Roberto Perez or Bo Naylor
1B-Nolan Jones
2B-Tyler Freeman or Brayan Rocchio
SS-Francisco Lindor
3B-Jose Ramirez
LF-George Valera
CF-Oscar Mercado
RF-Daniel Johnson
DH-Franmil Reyes
 
I posted this on Twitter, but with the wave of young talent incoming that will be relatively inexpensive at first, why not go all-in and sign him? Your 2022 Indians lineup could look like this:

C-Roberto Perez or Bo Naylor
1B-Nolan Jones
2B-Tyler Freeman or Brayan Rocchio
SS-Francisco Lindor
3B-Jose Ramirez
LF-George Valera
CF-Oscar Mercado
RF-Daniel Johnson
DH-Franmil Reyes

I understand your point about potentially having a ton of pre-arb guys in the lineup, but go ahead and look at our rotation now.

I think locking up Bieber and Clev on extensions is a more pressing need than an extension for Lindor.
 
I understand your point about potentially having a ton of pre-arb guys in the lineup, but go ahead and look at our rotation now.

I think locking up Bieber and Clev on extensions is a more pressing need than an extension for Lindor.
I agree re: Bieber but I am not so sure regarding Clevinger.
Here are my concerns re: Clev
1st concern: long string of various injuries. Some would suggest he is due for long stretch of health. Others see a violent delivery and figure and injury string will continue.
2nd concern: age Clev gets to attain Free Agency. He is looking at 1 large bite at the big money apple. While he might talk extension with Cleveland, I also assume he is looking for a near market value deal (no hometown discount).


1 other thought to consider: at the same cost of locking up Clev, the Tribe might be able to lock up multiple guys from the following group after 2020: Clase. Karinchak, Civale, Plesac & get longer player control in the process.
 
I've often wondered if the Indians may let Lindor walk but go after one of these guys instead.

Doesn't seem like their type of move. I did wonder in the offseason about a trade for Seager + pieces and offer Seager a similar deal to the one that Lindor reportedly declined. But then I learned he is represented by Scott Boras
 
I agree re: Bieber but I am not so sure regarding Clevinger.
Here are my concerns re: Clev
1st concern: long string of various injuries. Some would suggest he is due for long stretch of health. Others see a violent delivery and figure and injury string will continue.
2nd concern: age Clev gets to attain Free Agency. He is looking at 1 large bite at the big money apple. While he might talk extension with Cleveland, I also assume he is looking for a near market value deal (no hometown discount).


1 other thought to consider: at the same cost of locking up Clev, the Tribe might be able to lock up multiple guys from the following group after 2020: Clase. Karinchak, Civale, Plesac & get longer player control in the process.
I understand the Clev injury concerns completely, but in regards to hoping for that one big payday, his injury history plus being older than most of his arbitration counterparts may lead to him accepting an extension, much like Kluber did.
 
I know it's not at all a reason to give a guy $30 M per, but man do I think keeping Lindor would give a big boost to the fan-team relationship.
 
I am not holding my breath. When was the last time the big FA on this team signed with the home team? Never. It never happens.
 

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