5 teams that should start saving money for Francisco Lindor

3. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox lingered on the periphery of rumors attached to Bryce Harper and Manny Machado for a while this offseason, so they seem to be willing to spend. As they build things back up, they are easily tabbed as a team on the rise with Eloy Jimenez and Yoan Moncada set to be become franchise building blocks.

If they were to get Lindor, the White Sox would naturally weaken a division rival while adding a centerpiece of their infield and someone who can become a veteran leader at that point in his career. Frankly, it’s worth wondering if the South Siders would consider making a trade offer to the Indians for Lindor sometime over the next couple years. The Indians may not entertain trade offers from within the division, as much as they might consider any trade offers for Lindor, but it would be worth a try.

Looking ahead to 2022, as much as it means anything three years out, the White Sox are in the bottom-10 of MLB in committed payroll (via Spotrac). So a run at Lindor seems sure to be in the cards, and a plan to do so should start to take shape now.