This Indians-Mets trade for Francisco Lindor could work

Francisco Lindor could end up as a New York Met

The Cleveland Indians were a playoff team due in large part to the contributions of Francisco Lindor. Rather than dig through the couch cushions and find a few extra dollars in order to give him a new contract, the penny-pinching Indians look ready to trade him away for spare parts.

The Indians have all but come out and said that they will trade the mercurial shortstop this offseason. The New York Mets, having turned the page on the Wilpon era following the sale to Steve Cohen, will try to make themselves a contender in 2021, and trading for Lindor could be a great first step.

Amed Rosario could go to Cleveland in a Francisco Lindor deal

Rosario, a former top prospect that has started at shortstop for the last three seasons in New York, has put together a .268 average with 13 home runs per 162 games during his time with the Mets. Rosario might not have had the immediate offensive impact most Mets fans expected, but he is a plus defender that will only be 25 years old, and that could make him an immediate starter in Cleveland.

The Indians will want some pitching in any Lindor trade, and the Mets have plenty of young prospects that could help them in that department. No. 8 prospect Thomas Szapucki had a 2.63 ERA in 21 games during the 2019 season thanks to a filthy curveball, while No. 6 prospect JT Ginn has a blistering upper 90s fastball that could make him a very attractive as a starter and a reliever. The Mets get a superstar, while the Indians get a replacement for Lindor and two prized pitching prospects.

Unless the Mets get a guarantee from Lindor that he will sign a long-term extension, one MLB starter at a position of need and two prized pitching prospects for one of the best developers of pitching talent in the league is a fair deal.