Indians Reportedly Ask for Teams' 'Best and Final' Offers for Francisco Lindor Before This Weekend
By Scott Rogust
The status of Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor has been up in the air for the past calendar year. Now, it appears a decision could come this weekend (at least, as it pertains to 2020).
According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Indians have asked interested teams to send their "best and final" offers for Lindor by Friday. From there, the Indians will look them over during the weekend before making a decision on whether or not they'll pull the incredibly painful trigger and deal the face of their franchise.
"Indians are telling clubs interested in trading for Lindor that they want each team’s best and final offers so they can make an assessment over the weekend." No mention of the Yankees in this article by @Ken_Rosenthal. https://t.co/T4s6e1HKJJ
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) December 20, 2019
As for the teams, there are three that have been most active in their pursuit of Lindor. Rosenthal says the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have expressed interest, while fellow insider Mark Feinsand reported the Cincinnati Reds as the newest team in the sweepstakes earlier Thursday.
One team that backed out of a potential trade of Lindor are the New York Mets, due to an unwillingness to take on the shortstop's potential $25 million salary in 2021, which is his third year of arbitration, per Rosenthal.
The #Indians are telling clubs that they want each team's best and final offers for Francisco Lindor so they can make an assessment over the weekend according to @Ken_Rosenthal
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) December 20, 2019
In 143 games with Cleveland this past season, Lindor posted a .284 batting average, .840 OPS, 32 home runs, and 74 RBI.
If the Cleveland Indians receive an offer they can't refuse, Francisco Lindor will be on his way to another team, as early as this weekend.