CLEVELAND — Throughout the first two months of Major League Baseball’s offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been the team most often linked to a potential trade for Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, but there seems to be a surprise entrant in the proceedings.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Indians’ in-state rival, the Cincinnati Reds, have inquired about Lindor’s availability in a trade, which comes five months after the two teams joined the San Diego Padres in a deal that sent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati and Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig to Cleveland.
“The Reds have been engaged with the Indians in talks about the superstar shortstop, according to a source, thrusting Cincinnati into a mix that reportedly includes the Dodgers and Padres, among other clubs,” Feinsand wrote. “The clubs have not confirmed the talks.
“It’s unclear whether the talks have gained any traction, though the fact that the Reds are showing interest is yet another sign that the club is serious about contending in a wide-open National League Central.”
Lindor had another great season in 2019, as he belted 32 home runs, 40 doubles and two triples with 74 runs batted in and 101 runs scored despite missing the first 19 games while working through calf and ankle injuries suffered in a preseason individual workout and spring training, respectively.
The 25-year old Lindor hit .284 with a split of .335/.518/.854 on-base, slugging and on-base-plus-slugging percentages.
Defensively, Lindor appeared in 137 games, all starts, at shortstop. Over 1,196.1 innings of work, Lindor registered 159 put-outs and 312 assists against 10 errors in 481 total chances. In addition to the .979 fielding percentage, Lindor combined to turn 68 double plays on the way to his second AL Gold Glove Award in the last four years.
In 2018, Lindor led the Indians with 183 hits and 42 doubles, was tied for third in triples, third in runs batted in 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 717 games over his first four-plus years with the Indians, Lindor collected 835 hits, including 178 doubles, 15 triples and 130 home runs, with 384 runs batted in, 478 runs scored and 260 walks drawn against 455 strikeouts.
Additionally, Lindor stole 93 bases in 118 attempts.
A four-time American League All-Star infielder and two-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, Lindor has a .288 career batting average with .347 on-base, .493 slugging and .840 on-base-plus-slugging percentages.
Currently, Lindor is in his second year of arbitration, and he is expected to see a substantial increase in pay, whether his camp and the Indians agree on a deal before the hearing or if the superstar shortstop elects to go before an arbitrator.
Lindor made $10.55 million in 2019, but whatever the price, the Reds may be willing to pay it, at least for 2020, as they try to get into the mix for an NL Central Division title.
“Whether it’s the trade market or the free-agent market, we’ll do whatever we can to keep improving this club,” Reds general manager Nick Krall said in a press conference introducing pitcher Wade Miley.