CLEVELAND — Will shortstop Francisco Lindor remain with the Cleveland Indians long-term?
That is the question Indians fans have been asking, especially since the 2019 regular-season opener against the Minnesota Twins, and like them, New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia hopes Lindor remains in Cleveland long-term.
“He’s been a great player here, a great ambassador,” Sabathia said during MLB All-Star Game media availability at the Huntington Cleveland Convention Center Monday. “He loves to have fun.
“I hope he can stay here. I know when players get in a situation, they want to stay. This is one of those types of cities. Hopefully, they can figure it out.”
Sabathia understands well what fans and Lindor himself are going through with questions about his future in Cleveland.
That was not a decision Sabathia got to make, as the Indians dealt him to the Milwaukee Brewers midway through the 2008 season for several prospects, one who became a multi-time American League All-Star, Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley.
“Oh, man. I cried like a baby,” Sabathia recalled. “Yeah, of course I wanted to stay here the whole time. It’s just one of those cities. It’s one of those organizations. Top to bottom, from the training staff to the front office to the people that work at the stadium that you see every day, it’s just a great group of people and something you want to stay connected to and stay around.”
Despite a late start to the season because of calf and ankle injuries, Lindor is hitting .296 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, one triple, 45 runs scored and 32 RBI over 69 games, all of which continues to build on the success he has enjoyed early in his career.
Last season, Lindor led the Indians with 183 hits and 42 doubles, was tied for third in triples, third in RBI and second with 38 home runs. Lindor set a club record for lead-off home runs, as he started nine games with round-trippers in 2018.
Through 643 games over his first five years with the Indians, Lindor has collected 749 hits, including 155 doubles, 14 triples and 112 home runs, with 342 runs batted in, 422 runs scored and 239 walks drawn against 409 strikeouts. Additionally, Lindor has stolen 84 bases in 105 attempts.
Now a four-time American League All-Star infielder, Lindor has a .289 career batting average with .350 on-base, .490 slugging and .840 on-base-plus-slugging percentages.
“He’s a very special player that’s only going to keep getting better,” said Brantley, Lindor’s former Indians teammate. “He works very hard, day in and day out. When we were teammates, he asked the right questions. He’s very passionate and cares about this game. He’s going to be in this game for a long time.
“What he does on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively, is very special. Being a switch hitter, power from both sides, he’s a rare talent, but also, a great human being on and off the field.”
Regardless of whether Lindor stays with the Indians or signs with another team when his arbitration years are up in 2021, Brantley wants him to find the right situation.
“I want him to make the best decision for him and his family,” Brantley said. “There’s no right or wrong answer to that. It all depends on what’s going to make him happy.”
