5 teams that need to make a big trade offer for Francisco Lindor

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have done almost everything imaginable in an attempt to win their first World Series since 1988. They’ve spent hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars, built an elite farm system, locked down their own free agents to keep the core of the lineup together and made aggressive trades at the deadline to upgrade the roster. Still, none of the moves have led to a title.

The Dodgers have won the NL West seven years in a row, topped 100 wins twice and have lost in the World Series twice in the last three years.

They’ll need to get bold again this winter to end their 30-year drought.

A very complete team with few discernible weaknesses has allowed the Dodgers to pile up huge regular-season win totals, but they haven’t quite been able to find a legitimate second superstar to push their lineup over the top. Having nine very good regulars makes a team almost impossible to beat in a three-game series in the regular season, but the Dodgers just need a little extra star power to emerge as the last team standing in October.

Because the Dodgers have worked so hard to maintain an elite farm system (something the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs have been unable to do while contending), they can offer the Indians a very solid offer for Lindor. A trade could be built around outfielder Alex Verdugo, catcher Will Smith, shortstop Gavin Lux or right-handed flamethrower Dustin May. Making Lux or May the focal point of trade talks might force the Indians to accept less quantity in favor of more quality.

Lindor is an obvious fit on the Dodgers current roster, where Corey Seager can be shifted to third base or even shopped on the trade market himself for additional roster upgrades. This is a no-brainer for the Dodgers, though. They have the pieces in place to make a run at Lindor and should be considered the favorites to land him if the Indians are committed to making a deal.